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Why can jacanas walk on lily pads?

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Illustration of a crab plover (Dromas ardeola), showing a slender wading bird with long legs, a long pointed black bill, white head and underparts, and contrasting black wings and back. — Charadriiform Crab plover (Dromas ardeola)

Jacanas, which belong to the order Charadriiformes, are uniquely adapted for life on floating vegetation. They are able to walk on lily pads because they possess exceptionally long, straight claws that help distribute their weight across the surface of the plants.1