Monday, November 28, 2011

The #Mole With Twelve Fingers

Polydactyly refers to extra digits. It is a relatively common congenital anomaly in both humans, dogs and cats. Most animals with paws have ten digits. In moles however having an extra thumb is the norm. A bone stretching from the wrist, along the real thumb gives a bigger surface area for digging. The extra thumb is not jointed, comprising a single sickle shaped bone that develops later than the real digits. It is thought the development is linked, as it is in humans with high levels of maternal testosterone.




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