Ability to swim
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- This article is from an anthropological perspective. For topics in human swimming, see swimming
Swimming is the ability to travel distances, or stay alive while submerged in water. Swimming is an activity that is useful and recreational for many animal species. It occurs for bathing, fishing, travelling, cooling, and avoiding enemies. Swimming can be either very natural, or very unnatural, but is generally somewhere in between. An individual's ability to swim can be judged by speed, or duration before drowning.
Humans often learn to swim in formal swimming lessons. To stay afloat in water, very little action is needed; the human body is slightly less dense than the water. Human swimming involves the use of all four limbs in a unique way to how they are used during walking. [#endnote_gorilla] Those with lower body fat, and a high center of gravity, have a tougher time staying afloat.[#endnote_camel] The most efficient swimming techniques involve submerging the nose and mouth in water, posing challenges for swimming and breathing simultaneusly. People generally cannot swim comfortably without experience or practice, and have on many occasions drowned, often due to panic. Children generally do not swim independently until 4 years of age.[link] Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of death among Canadian children 1-4 years old.[link]
Other mammals
As a general rule, animals with lungs have an easier time swimming than those without.[link]. Also, for most quadrupedal (four footed) animals, the act of swimming involves the same basic activities as the act of walking or running, thus, the ability for animals to swim is often quite natural.Gorillas
Gorillas can swim, but they are not very good at it. Gorillas and orangutans have a very high center of gravity.[#endnote_camel] Given the choice, they will go to great lengths to avoid putting themselves in a position where they would need to swim.[#endnote_gorilla]Camels
Although there is speculation to the contrary, a number of eyewitnesses have confirmed that camels can indeed swim.[#endnote_camel] (Camelus dromedarius Camelus bactrianus) There is not much deep water in their natural habitats, so swimming is very unnatural.Horses
Horses can swim quite well, and have demonstrated this ability for many spectators in the past, including the ability to (willingly) dive into water from platforms 60 feet up.[link](''see horse diving)Dogs
The method of swimming used by dogs is known as the doggie paddle. Some breeds of dog swim recreationally. Umbra, a world record holding dog can swim 4 miles in 73 minutes, placing her in the top 25% in human long-distance swimming competitions.[link]Other
It has been speculated that some varieties of armadillos, and eagles cannot swim at all.[#endnote_camel] It is disputed whether bats can swim.[link][#endnote_camel] Hamsters fill their cheek pouches with air before taking the plunge.
References
- ↑ [http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/oct98/908233991.Zo.r.html]
- ↑ [http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mcamelswim.html]
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