Why do dogs/other animals instinctively know how to swim but humans have to be taught how to not drown?
Humans seem to have lost this reflex / instinct, babies actually have a diving (hold their breath under water) and swimming motion like reflex (not true swimming) until about 6 moths. _URL_0_ Haven't seen a good explanation as to why. Instinctive swimming seems to be hit and miss in primates, the…
The Short Answer
Humans seem to have lost this reflex / instinct, babies actually have a diving (hold their breath under water) and swimming motion like reflex (not true swimming) until about 6 moths. _URL_0_ Haven't seen a good explanation as to why. Instinctive swimming seems to be hit and miss in primates, there is some info that primates that don't instinctively swim can be taught however so maybe something in our evolutionary tree that made us better at one thing sacrificed automatic swimming.
Analysis
Key Concepts: Swimming, reflex, primates
This explanation focuses on swimming, reflex, primates and spans 79 words across 3 sentences. The depth is typical for Animals questions (category average: 68 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.
What This Answer Covers
The explanation opens with: “Humans seem to have lost this reflex / instinct, babies actually have a diving (hold their breath under water) and swimm” It then elaborates by presenting a contrasting perspective, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 3 connected points.
How This Compares in Animals
Ranked #167 of 500 Animals questions by answer depth (top 34%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a simple explanation for why dogs/other animals instinctively know how to swim but humans have to be taught how to not drown?
Humans seem to have lost this reflex / instinct, babies actually have a diving (hold their breath under water) and swimming motion like reflex (not true swimming) until about 6 moths. _URL_0_ Haven't seen a good explanation as to why. Instinctive…
How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Animals questions?
This is an above-average answer at 79 words, ranked #167 of 500 Animals questions by depth. The key concepts covered are swimming, reflex, primates.
What approach does this answer take to explain dogs/other animals instinctively know how to swim but humans?
The explanation uses contrasting perspectives across 79 words. It is categorized under Animals and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.