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Medically referred to as syndactyly (a name that also refers to webbed fingers), webbed toes are described as two or more toes fused together. While it is normal for animals such as ducks and frogs to have webbed toes, it is not as common among humans. During early fetal development, all our toes and fingers are webbed together.
Ducks, geese, and swans all have webbed feet. The primary use for webbed feet is paddling through water. Here's how it works: as the bird pulls its foot backwards through the water, the toes spread apart, causing the webs to spread out. The webs push more water than just a bird foot with spread-out toes would push. (It would be like trying to swim with your fingers spread apart.) The webbed feet propel the bird through the water. When the bird pulls its foot forward for the next push, the toes come together, folding up the webs.