Walking on water is often thought of as a miraculous or supernatural feat. But in the natural world, some animals have evolved remarkable adaptations that allow them to move across the surface of water with ease. These animals are not magic—they rely on physics, specialized body structures, and incredible agility to perform this seemingly impossible task.
In this article, we’ll explore 7 fascinating animals that can walk on water, how they do it, and why this ability helps them survive.
To understand how certain animals can walk on water, we must look at two main scientific principles:
Water molecules stick together through hydrogen bonds, creating a kind of “film” at the surface. Tiny and lightweight animals like insects can rest on this film without breaking it, as long as:
They have very low body weight
Their size is small
Their legs are water-repellent (hydrophobic), so they don’t absorb water
Larger animals, such as lizards, are too heavy to rely on surface tension alone. Instead, they use powerful, fast movements to slap or push against the water, creating upward force to momentarily support their weight.
These abilities are often used for:
Escaping predators
Chasing prey
Laying eggs in safe aquatic environments
Let’s take a closer look at seven animals with this extraordinary ability.
Raft spiders are large aquatic spiders that can walk on water and even dive underwater.
They lack muscles in their legs and move using hydraulic pressure—pushing body fluid into their limbs to create motion.
Their eight long, thin legs distribute their lightweight body over a large surface area, minimizing pressure on the water and allowing them to float and move without sinking.
This adaptation makes them excellent hunters of insects and small aquatic animals.
Learn more: [Spider Body Parts Explained]
Water striders are some of the most iconic water-walking insects.
Their middle legs are long and used to glide across the surface, while rear legs steer and support their movement.
The tips of their legs are covered in hydrophobic hairs that trap air and prevent water from soaking in.
Their front legs are shorter and used for grabbing prey.
Thanks to these features, water striders can walk, stop, and even leap on water with precision.
Mosquitoes rely on water throughout their life cycle:
They lay water-repellent eggs on water surfaces.
Larvae and pupae develop in standing water.
Adult mosquitoes must be able to land on water to reproduce.
To walk on water, they use hydrophobic legs and take advantage of surface tension. If their wings or body get too wet, they can’t take off, making them vulnerable.
Did you know? Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases like dengue and Zika, which is why removing standing water is key to mosquito control.
Related: [What Are Mosquitoes Good For?]
One of the few vertebrates that can run on water, basilisk lizards earned the nickname "Jesus Lizards" for this incredible ability.
They use long hind legs with flaps of skin on their toes to slap the water’s surface.
Their long tail helps them balance.
By running at speeds up to 1.5 meters per second, they generate enough force to stay above water briefly.
If they slow down, they sink—but when escaping predators, they often leap from trees and sprint across water to safety.
Geckos are known for their wall-climbing abilities, but some can also run across water.
They have hydrophobic skin, which reduces drag and helps them stay afloat.
Their legs beat the water surface, creating lift.
Air bubbles form under their feet, adding buoyancy.
They use tail and body undulation to generate forward motion, similar to how they move on land.
These combined tactics allow geckos to run on water almost as fast as on solid ground.
This may surprise you, but some snails can “walk” just beneath the water surface—not on the bottom, but upside-down on the underside of the water-air boundary.
They secrete mucus, which works with surface tension and pressure differentials to “stick” to the surface.
They create tiny waves in the mucus to propel themselves.
Air trapped in their shell also adds buoyancy, keeping them suspended in place.
It’s a truly unique case among mollusks.
Also known as “Jesus birds,” jacanas appear to walk on water but actually walk on floating vegetation, especially lily pads.
Their toes are extremely long, spreading their weight across a large surface area.
They build nests, forage, and even raise chicks on these aquatic leaves.
Although poor swimmers, they are excellent flyers and perfectly adapted to life on floating plants.
From tiny insects to agile reptiles, these 7 animals that walk on water show us just how creative evolution can be. Whether it's through exploiting surface tension or using sheer speed and force, these creatures have adapted to move in ways that seem almost magical.
Bibliografía
Nirody, J. A., Jinn, J., Libby, T., Lee, T. J., Jusufi, A., Hu, D. L., & Full, R. J. (2018). Geckos race across the water’s surface using multiple mechanisms. Current Biology, 28(24), 4046-4051.
Ball, P. (2008). How to walk on water. Nature. ISSN 1476-4687.
Beatty, R., Beer, A., & Deeming, C. (2010). El libro de la naturaleza. Gran Bretaña: Dorling Kindersley.
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