Tag Archive for 'Thumb'

Miocene-Period Giant Panda Already Had Enigmatic Extra ‘Thumb’

Jun 30, 2022 by News Staff

Of the many peculiarities that enable the modern giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) to adapt to life as a bamboo eater, its extra ‘thumb’ is the...

Life reconstruction of Kunpengopterus antipollicatus in the Tiaojishan paleoforest; opposed pollex depicted as being utilized in handling food items (a palaeontinid) and in clinging to trees (a ginkgo). Image credit: Chuang Zhao.

Small Jurassic Pterosaur Had an Opposed Thumb

Apr 13, 2021 by Enrico de Lazaro

Opposed thumbs are adaptations to arboreal life and rare for non-mammal vertebrates; Kunpengopterus antipollicatus, a newly-discovered species of arboreal...

Reconstruction of a Neanderthal. Image credit: Neanderthal Museum.

Neanderthal Thumbs were Better Adapted to Holding Tools with Handles: Study

Nov 26, 2020 by News Staff

Neanderthals may have found precision grips (where objects are held between the tip of the finger and thumb) more challenging than power squeeze grips...