How do webbed feet help most otter species move in water?

Most otter species are semiaquatic mammals that utilize their webbed feet to enhance their swimming ability. These webbed appendages serve as the primary units for propulsion, allowing otters to move gracefully through the water.12

While swimming, otters typically use their hind legs and their long, flattened tails to generate movement. The webbing between the toes increases the surface area of the feet, which provides greater thrust against the water during each stroke. In most species, these feet move in an alternating fashion to propel the animal forward.12