The name of this critter describes it perfectly. The backswimmer's keel-shaped back and powerful legs help it swim after its prey of small aquatic animals and escape its predators.
The colors on its body help it play hide and go seek. The white back (remember it swims on its back), when seen from underneath, blends into the sky; the dark bottom, when seen from the air, blends in with the color of the bottom of the pond. It is camouflaged from both directions!
The backswimmer must return to the surface for oxygen, which it gets through the tip of its abdomen.
The backswimmer's bite can hurt, so be careful.
Tags:
Water Critters