Amazing Facts About What Ants Can Swim
WouterDespite their small size and lack of lungs, ants have unique adaptations to survive in water. Some species are quite good swimmers. Some ants even swim in floods.
The ability to swim has evolved several times in ants. They can hold their breath underwater for long periods of time and even use doggy paddles to get through water.
The most common species that can swim are trap-jaw ants. These ants are native to Borneo, Asia. They can swim over large bodies of water without tiring. They also use their hind legs as rudders.
Other ants, such as the fire ant, can float. They can join their legs together to form a raft that can float until dry land is reached. These ants also build lifeboats to help them survive a flood.
Despite their small size, ants can lift more than 100 times their own weight. The Polyrhachis sokolova ant is an example of this. These ants have an aquatic lifestyle and nest in submerged mangroves. They have no lungs and breath through spiracles.
Scientists at James Cook University discovered this ant while doing another project. They were amazed when they saw this ant swimming across a puddle.
The ant was able to do this by closing off its tubes to keep water out. The ant also had a spiracle that could close for days. These are just a few of the many fascinating things about ants.
Other interesting facts include the fact that ants can dive. Diving ants dive into the water pooled in pitcher plants to feed. The plant also uses the ooze as fertilizer.
