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How do a platypus’s back feet help it swim?
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platypus
The duck-billed platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), or duckbill, is common in the waterways of eastern Australia.
When a platypus swims, its back feet function as rudders and brakes, helping the animal steer and control its movement in the water. While the platypus relies primarily on its strong, webbed front limbs for propulsion, the back feet provide essential stability and maneuverability.1