Why do humans have five toes?

Question

Why do humans have 5 toes on each foot

Answer 1

Hi,

To answer this question you need to know a little about evolution. Evolution is when a species adapts to the environment over a long period of time (millions of years). They adapt to survive. If you take a look at a human foot and compare it to other animals, we have big stable feet, to allow us balance, as opposed to a cats foot which is designed for running, or a rabbits for jumping (Long and narrow). It is because our ancestors have never had to jump or run to survive, that we have the feet we have. This is the same with toes. 5 toes on each foot provide us with optimal balance. Think about it.... when you walk, what last touches the ground? Your toes. They go at the angle they go in and from big to small, to keep you from tripping and falling. If you had to many toes, you would probably trip,and if you had not enough, well you would probably tip over. I hope this helped. It is all evolution. :)

Answer 2

Our outward apperance are caused by genetics. We humans have 2 eyes 1 nose 2 arms 5 toes..etc because these are what we as human beings should have. We inherit certain characteristics from the human race which makes us look like other human beings. It's what we call specie characteristics. These are traits that we share with our own species. Meanwhile our individual outward appearances are brought about by something called individual characteristics. These bring about different skin color, eye color..etc Further on in genetics, it can be said that the 5 toes(why five and not 6 or 7?...I don't know) are caused by adaptation so we won't slip. They help anchor us to the ground....but nowadays we have shoes!

Answer 3

stable query, not theory approximately that till now! of course having 5 feet(or hands) is beneficial for mountaineering bushes, grabbing gadgets, etc., although that's demanding to confirm why 3 or 4 (or 6!) could not do the interest in simple terms besides. definitely that not in simple terms do apes and monkeys have 5 hands and feet, all mammals have 5 digits, so that's in all possibility the unique ancestors of mammals more desirable like this 100s of tens of millions of years in the past. So why the kind 5? the respond seems to be that there is not any truly stable reason. It substitute into in simple terms a twist of destiny that this sort took place. on a similar time as 5 won't unavoidably be the 'ultimate' sort, there substitute into no stable rationalization why 4 or 6 substitute into greater useful. So 5 remained the regular sort by means of default interior the absence of any stable evolutionary stress for a various sort. So the respond is truly 'accident'!

Answer 4

Most mammals and reptiles (but not all) have five digits on each limb. This isn't a coincidence. Paleontologists believe that the ancestor of all mammals and reptiles was a fish that had bony fins (an example of such a "living fossil" is the coelacanth, discovered several decades ago). Some fish, hundreds of millions of years ago, had an arrangement of eight bones in their fins. Our fishy ancestor that one day crawled up onto land, by chance, happened to have five bones in their fins.

Those mammals and reptiles that have less than five digits have "lost" digits as an adaptation to their environment.

Humans could probably have done just as well with a fishy ancestor that had four fin bones, or six bones.

Answer 5

5 Toes

Answer 6

As you read through the many responses, please pay special attention to those answers that refer to evolutionary processes and to the fact that 5 digits on each limb goes back much farther than humans. If you have a dog or cat, count their digits (although some cats have 6, that is rare; and some dogs have been bred to not have a fifth "dew claw").

Even hooved animals have the remnants of 5 digits hiding in their limbs.

Answer 7

Balance and power. If you were to lose a big toe for instance, you will lose power propelling your feet forward of each other while walking. If you lose both big toes you will not get anywhere fast.

Answer 8

read this article.you'll understand.it is because of the natural selection of nature according to evolution theory.animals with 5 fingers survive better and with 5 fingers we can achieve a lot of things.lost a finger and u'll become hapless.

Answer 9

if we had four we could be mistaken for Aliens or walt disney charactors
if we had more
we could end up in a zoo
so we have five its a lot safer

Answer 10

because we have evolved from monkeys and Bush is president