Why are humans the only primates with fingerprints?

Question

Basically, what function do fingerprints serve and why are they different for each of us?

Answer 1

Actually all primates have friction or dermal ridges (aka finger prints). As the name friction ridge indicates, fingerprints, or more accurately the dermal ridges create a stickier surface to grab onto branches or fruit for example.
From reference below (finger print highlighted with <<<>>>):
6. Order - Primates; characterized by k-selection, single birth (with rare twinning - species specific) with emphasis placed on individual care during growth and development, long maturation period with social play, learning, long life span

# a. shift from smell to vision; stereoscopic vision important for climbing through trees and picking insects, flowers and fruit from branches, closure of the bony orbit (bone encircling the eye)
# b. hand-eye coordination, coupled with pentadactyl, allows for grasping objects in space, nails have underlying tactile pads that are highly sensitive, <<<<<>>>>> allow for friction in which to grasp objects
# c. increase in size and complexity of cerebral cortex so that organisms can learn and interact in the environment; related to increase sense of sight with decrease sense of smell

Answer 2

I don't know if your premise is correct. If a chimp is raised by humans, does the reduced wear and callusing allow its fingerprints to develop?
I think figerprints may be vestiges from pre- primate tree climbers that needed to grip smooth bark, reclaimed code from pre- mammal amphibious creatures.

Answer 3

I did keep in mind that. And we've plenty stranger issues in common, with distinct different species. as an instance, did you keep in mind that each one animals with a spinal chords are deuterostomes, that means that in embryonic progression, the hollow that turns into the anus opens before the hollow that turns into the mouth? isn't that an exceedingly unusual trait to percentage with the different chordates?

Answer 4

i do believe they have fingerprints, though theres not much point in keeping track of them, its not exactly like we need to check them everytime a ransom letter is sent somewhere.

It'd be like keeping dental records for geese, its just easier and such to band them, knowing them apart by how they bite is just a waste of time.

Answer 5

ridges and valleys are in the skin that covers your entire hand including fingertips.They aid your ability to grip things,,,,,kinda like the tread on car tires,

these patterns are random like DNA and no two people are alike.
even the patterns on each of your own fingers are different

Answer 6

Hi. They aid in gripping friction and there are no two trees alike. Same for cars, hair patterns, just about everything.

Answer 7

Do other primates have toe or footprints?

Answer 8

humans have FINGER prints because we have fingers....other animals have differnet prints to make each one different....not all dog prints are the same if you really look at them

Answer 9

Good for gripping. Y ask Y?

Answer 10

Hey, I'm not a primate! Where did you get that from?