Zoology: Living Models (1:1)

Chimpanzee hands are characterized by four long curved fingers and an opposable thumb (also known as a pollex), making it possible for skillful manipulation of objects. This dexterity is of great importance in the survival activities of the primate namely in climbing vegetation, grasping and holding food, holding offspring and making tools. Chimpanzees engage in quadrupedal knuckle-walking, where the fingers are curled up into a fist and the dorsal aspect of the fingers makes contact with the ground. In most primates, the distal tips of the fingers are covered with flat nails and the palmer (the palm side) surface of the hands is covered with dermatoglyphics (fingerprints). Please see the life casts of other primate hands, including a human, LC-17.

Conservation Status: Endangered

8 ½" L x 4 ½" W / 21.6 cm x 11.4 cm