2006-07-13 02:45:43 · 30 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
There are actually people in the South American rain forests who have toes that are very much like the opposable toes of monkeys and great apes. People who are constantly walking across rounded surfaces like tree branches when their foot bones are still forming as children will end up having big toes that seem almost opposable. I have seen pictures of them and it's really cool! So, humans who choose to live part of their lives in the trees have the ability to develop feet that can grasp branches in a similar way to our ape ancestors. In fact, lots of people who have worn confining shoes their whole lives still have the ability to grab things with their toes.
2006-07-13 11:43:39 · answer #1 · answered by Tea 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This has a lot to do with evolution. The closest living ancestor to human beings are the Chimpanzees. They spend a large part of their time on trees, this required both hands and legs to be prehensile. The function is made effective by the opposing big toe (In human beings the big toe is no longer opposing as the thumb in the hand).
As we evolved we left our tree dwelling habits to be ground dwellers. This changes required feet that were more suited for running. This would help one to run save life and also be very effective while hunting on the ground.
The erect posture resulted in humans having feet to effectively allow them to carry their body weight and be more adapted to their life on the ground.
2006-07-13 13:28:07 · answer #2 · answered by Rabindra 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the course of evolution humans have developed toes from claws. Therefore, they are unable to hold things using their toes.
2006-07-13 10:14:00 · answer #3 · answered by drharsha_dentist 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
now how can u know others can't grab things with thier toes ? my sister and I have fun picking up things with our toes. not only do we have fun with it but for my sis it is a part of her life . she has been in 5 car acidents , has a 5 inch rod in her back and 5 bolts . picking up things with her toes has become a part of her life . i'm sure u r refuring to what u might believe as evolution but sence i don't believe in it i feel it's just a fluke that we have we have this silly talent. truley i'm sure alot of others have this talent and many others like it. my nefew can bend his toes completly backwards flat to his foot. looks very strange . in fact our familey has some really fun talents like this. we see us as very bendy people not left over monkeys.
2006-07-13 10:27:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
who says they don't? i do all the time because i do not want to bend down. after i had my daughter i picked up the whole house with my toes so i would not have to bend. considering how much pain i was in it really came in handy. i can take m pinkie toe and flip it on the other toe which helps me carry things with my feet.
2006-07-13 09:48:25 · answer #5 · answered by wedjb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i use my toes 4 grabbing, but they're not as dextrous as the hands, because we have evolved 2 walk on two legs. Bipedialism
2006-07-13 13:37:27 · answer #6 · answered by sexgod 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i pick socks up off the floor and grab things all the time with my toes
2006-07-13 09:48:03 · answer #7 · answered by whoisgod71 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can pick up things with my toes, i thought everyone could,maybe some of us are more animal than others.
2006-07-13 09:48:59 · answer #8 · answered by jean c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I must still be evolving or de-evolving because I can, it's just a lot easier with my fingers, I could sit down and feed myself a meal with a fork with my toes
2006-07-13 09:48:41 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Evolution!
2006-07-13 09:47:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋