Sea Butterfly

Yusra Mardini, who survived a dangerous sea crossing a year ago and is now among 10 refugees competing under the Olympic flag in Rio

This aptly-named Arctic "sea butterfly" (Limacina helicina) is the subject of a new study in the Journal of Experimental Biology. It turns out that its way of swimming doesn't just look like flying - the mysterious creature really does use the same biomechanics as animals that fly through the air.

Yusra Mardini, who survived a dangerous sea crossing a year ago and is now among 10 refugees competing under the Olympic flag in Rio

This aptly-named Arctic "sea butterfly" (Limacina helicina) is the subject of a new study in the Journal of Experimental Biology. It turns out that its way of swimming doesn't just look like flying - the mysterious creature really does use the same biomechanics as animals that fly through the air.