räpyläiset

Räpyläiset is a Finnish term used to describe a group of animals characterized by the presence of webbed feet or fins. This term is not a formal scientific classification but rather a descriptive one, often encountered in informal contexts or within specific cultural or regional usage. The animals referred to as räpyläiset typically inhabit aquatic or semi-aquatic environments.

Common examples of animals that might be loosely categorized as räpyläiset include various species of waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, which use their webbed feet for efficient propulsion in water. Amphibians like frogs and newts, with their often webbed toes, can also be considered within this informal grouping. In a broader sense, some aquatic mammals like otters, and even fish with fin structures that aid in movement, might be described using this term, although it is less common for mammals and fish to be referred to this way. The defining characteristic is the adaptation for life in water, facilitated by specialized appendages. The precise scope of the term can vary depending on who is using it and in what context.