Can All Primates Swim

By: NDTVNewsDesk

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The answer is no. Most primates, especially great apes like chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans, are poor swimmers.

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They often fear deep water due to low body fat and top-heavy builds.

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Their body composition isn't suited for buoyancy, and they lack the instinct or evolutionary need to swim, unlike many other mammals.

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Their upper bodies are often heavier than their lower bodies, making it hard to keep their heads above water.

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Many apes instinctively avoid water, and their bodies aren't built for efficient movement in it.

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But some monkeys like proboscis monkeys and crab-eating macaques are excellent aquatic primates.

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Proboscis monkeys are highly adapted for water, they swim well underwater to find food in mangrove forests.

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Crab-eating macaques are expert swimmers, they dive for shellfish and fruits, often swimming with their eyes open.

Image: Pexels

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