This occurs when a trait (such as webbed feet) that provides an advantage in certain environments (such as water) becomes more common in a population over time because individuals who possess the trait are more likely to survive and reproduce. Scientists believe that it is a result of natural selection. Webbed feet are a characteristic of some animals that have evolved as an adaptation to their aquatic environment. Image Credit: Pixabay What Causes Webbed Feet? Webbed feet are common in aquatic animals such as fish, otters, seals, amphibians, water birds, and some breeds of water working dogs. Some birds, such as ducks, have particularly well-developed webbing on their feet, while other birds, such as herons, have shorter webbing.
#Webbed feet dogs skin
The adaptation involves the webbing of the skin between the toes, which increases the surface area of the foot and helps to push against the water as the animal moves. Webbed feet are an anatomical adaptation found in some animals that allows them to swim more efficiently. Read on to find all about what this feature is, how it evolved, which one of their many ancestors passed webbed feet along to Golden Retrievers, and what other breeds of dog share this fascinating trait. Their webbing is a layer of skin that lies close to the bone and some people think it helps the dog move more easily through the water. This is an adaptation that allows these dogs to swim better.
What you might not know is that Golden Retrievers have another more hidden feature-webbed feet! When you picture a Golden Retriever, you might think of a large, happy dog with a silky, wavy coat that is creamy, yellow, golden, or rusty in color. They are known for their friendly nature and their physical characteristics. So whether it’s digging, swimming, wet & soggy surfaces or uneven terrain, there are benefits of webbing.The Golden Retriever is one of the most popular breeds of dog in the world. The majority of breeding with webbing has been assistance for swimming, even helping create ‘super-swimmers’ but breeds such as the Dachshund used the benefit of his webbing for digging because with webbing you can brush more dirt away faster when you’re digging around for small game. This is the same principle for Husky’s working on the snow, that the webbed toes result in greater weight distribution. Webbing came in handy for the Redbone Coonhound as he worked a lot in swampy or marshy areas, so his feet sank less.
Have you checked to see if your dog has any between his or her toes? Below are breeds which have some degree of webbing.ĭogs with webbed feet have the ultimate flexibility when it comes locomotion on land or in water. Many animals (us too) have webbing as they are developing, then at some stage at a cellular level, this is turned off.ĭog breeds which worked around water had unique jobs and those such as the Newfoundland were often called upon for their brute strength, others with ‘less bulky’ bodies were used for tasks like herding fish into nets, carrying an item or message from one vessel to another or just retrieving smaller items fallen overboard.
It’s taken a long line of ancestry to get to where they are now. Webbing is basically a membrane of connective tissue and skin. There are many features which make your dog’s feet unique including the toe placement, nail colour & length.
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