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Page 62 - Questioning, experimenting, understanding |
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? How do birds run on water?
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During mating season, the male Siberian moorhen runs on the surface of the water without flapping his wings. The Siberian moorhen employs the stroke
of his legs to very quickly push the water to rear and does not sink. Whoever runs the furthest gets the hen.
Siberian moorhen. The great crested grebe can run on water too.
? How does a water skeeter run on water?
Water skeeters (Gerris Lacustris) use a completely different principle to run on water. The surface tension of the water keeps them from sinking. The inset runs on the "skin"
of the water. Their legs are lubricated with a secretion to become hydrophobic. To reinforce the effect, they have hairs on their back legs. This greatly increases the surface.
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Fig. 5.27
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Fig. 5.28
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Water skeeter and highly enlarged section of the leg.
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