Can the shape of your toes make you a better swimmer? Carrie Straight 06.01.01 Grebes (Family Podicipedidae) are diving birds that spend a lot of time in the water. They have lobed feet that scientists believe help them swim. Grebes have laterally flattened toes, which help the birds bring them forward through the water. Then with a slight turn of the toe, they push the lobed surface through the water moving them through the water. Two scientists from Sweden wanted to learn more about how the toes of great crested grebes (Podiceps cristatus) helped them be better swimmers. Christoffer Johansson and Ulla Lindhe Norberg videotaped and photographed the feet of swimming grebes. By recording the movement of the foot during a stroke, these researchers could see the changes in positions of each toe. They discovered that each toe provides power to move the bird through the water. In addition, the design of each toe can be compared to the feathers on the wing, providing the most power based on its design and twisting to decrease resistance when not on the power stroke. CLICK HERE for more information! Johansson, L. Christoffer, and Ulla M. Lindhe Norberg. 2000. Asymmetric toes aid underwater swimming. Nature 407: 582-583. ©2001 The Aurora Collection, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Site Development by: Interactive Multimedia. Inc.