primates have 5 digits on one hand and foot. Is this number of digits a conservative or derived characteristic

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primates have 5 digits on one hand and foot. Is this number of digits a conservative or derived characteristic

please explain your resoning?

2007-02-01 11:09:50 · 2 answers · asked by doctorhockey18 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology

2 answers

I think that it is a conservative characteristic. It is conserved since the first animal evolved. On the other hand it may be derived as well as it was derived from the first animal.

2007-02-03 15:49:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋

I'm not too sure but id say derived, 5 digits is a key feature of a PENTADACTYL LIMB. All mammals have it, humans, bats, dogs, sheep, horses, dolphins.

2007-02-03 17:20:41 · answer #2 · answered by anteh_rhcp 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋