Proposal

Animal Forms and Function – water strider

I chose water striders for my animal. The length is from 1.6mm to 36mm. The shape of their body is slender and elongate to almost round so they can move very quickly. What all of them in common is they can walk on the water due to the special structure of their leg which wax secreted on and numerous tiny hairs that trap tiny air bubbles that allow the insect to float on the water without getting wet or falling. They barely makes contact with the surface of the water with the tips of its feet which it does make contact, it doesn’t break through the surface. Not only can move freely above the water, but also can pact 15times of its weight without sinking. This function makes me think of designing swimming suits that when people wear it, their body can float as avoiding the tension between water and human body. This suit would be specially useful for people who can’t swim. If people wear this suit, they can move the body naturally as having those specific wax coated and hair attached to the surface of the suit. Also, there would be a shoes that if we wear it, helps to transport as many supplies as we want., besides, people would be able to do activities that we normally do above the ground such as playing sports, sleeping and pre much can do anything.