What is the mobility trade-off associated with the Wattled Jacana's giant feet?
Answer
It is somewhat awkward and slow when forced to walk on dry land or firm banks
The extreme specialization of the Wattled Jacana's feet for distributing weight on floating plants results in a clear disadvantage when the bird is forced onto solid ground. While perfectly suited for traversing unstable aquatic mats, the large appendages designed for surface tension support are not optimized for terrestrial propulsion. Consequently, when walking on dry land or firm banks, the bird appears slow and awkward, relying on these large structures primarily for balance rather than efficient forward movement.
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