Most animals possess an innate
ability to swim, or at least float. After all, about 71% of the Earth's surface is water-covered. But there are some surprising
exceptions.
Certain large mammals, for example, either lack the capacity to swim or are poorly adapted for deep water survival. Several factors contribute to this inability to swim effectively, for instance lack of natural buoyancy, insufficient limb structure, or simply an aversion to water.
This limitation is often a consequence of specialized terrestrial evolution, resulting in an anatomy incompatible with aquatic locomotion. And in one extreme example, there's even a fish that "walks" rather than swims!
Curious to learn more? In this gallery, we highlight 10 wildlife species that for all sorts of reasons cannot or prefer not to swim. Click on to continue reading.