Recently, Edie asked: I am amazed when I see pictures of their feet-they seem so versatile! Do they ever use their feet like hands?
Chimpanzee feet are pretty amazing indeed. Unlike our own, they are prehensile, meaning they have the ability to grasp. This is because their big toes are opposable, like our thumbs.
This is presumably an adaptation to aid in climbing, like when scaling tree trunks:
Or when clinging to vines and small branches:
They can also aid in maintaining balance when perched precariously above the ground:
But they can also function like an extra set of hands when necessary. Gathering tomatoes? With prehensile feet you can haul twice as many.
Difficult Kong puzzle? Why not let your feet do some of the work and free up both hands?
Wondering where to put your doll when you are eating lunch suspended from the caging? You can trust that Dora the Explorer will remain safely in the grip of your opposable toe.
The dexterity of chimpanzee feet also makes them great for tickling.
I hope all chimpanzees stop once and a while to appreciate having such useful feet.
Another great explanation….and photos to demonstrate too, thank you J.R. Is that Missy walking the hose with her arms and mouth full of food? I’ve seen her do that before and she amazes me with her dexterity and balance! I was looking at an old video recently of them getting large frozen fruit blocks and after a few tries at biting bits off hers, she stood it in the ground and was stomping on it with her foot….how smart is she?
Missu does it, but it’s Jamie.
Thanks J.B.
I really love all these pictures, and the great story they illustrate.
And, bonus, I get a new word for the day: prehensile ! 🙂
I have a somewhat silly question. Do chimps have fingernails and toenails? And, if so, do you guys have to trim them?
Hi Alex – Yes, they do and if you look closely you can see them in some of the close up photos above. We don’t usually have to trim them, though when they are in the clinic for a procedure we will typically give them a quick manicure. Usually, their nails wear down from use or the chimps bite them. Their fingernails tend to be longer than their toenails, probably due to differential growth rates and wear patterns.
I will admit to being jealous of those feet and everything you can do with them. Plus, there is such beauty in their hands and feet, like in the photo “Annie, holding her hand with her foot”. Annie’s long fingers always look so elegant. Just beautiful.
Ever run into the grocery store thinking that you’re going to pick up 3 things, and then wishing you’d grabbed a basket? Imagine if you could use your feet….and if they’d let you in the store barefoot….
Oh we should all be so lucky… but wait.. then we would need to sleep up in trees… Maybe I will just practice putting my toes to better use… Thanks J.B.!
That last picture looks like they’re giving us a high-five…. or is that a low-five. 🙂
Thanks so much, J.B. for answering my question! Chimpanzee feet are even more amazing than I
thought possible-that incredible big toe! Plus I love all the photos that illustrate the points, especially
those lovely tomato toes. I am yet again impressed by these fascinating, beautiful beings.
Your posts are always so informative and educational, but having the photos to show what you are talking about is an extra bonus, JB. Diana’s idea to let us ask questions has certainly been a huge success. You guys are answering questions I’ve wondered about through the years I’ve been reading these posts but somehow never knew where to find the answers. The tightrope walker and the foot holding Kong are my two favorite pix in this post.
They never cease to amaze me at how complex and wonderful they are! Their ability to walk a tightrope while both hands are filled with food is awesome, every time I see it! Thanks for these wonderful blogs full of chimpanzee wisdom!
Stay well, stay safe and big hugs from me here in snowy Edmonton.
Most sincerely,
Caroline
Chimp feet aren’t that special, ours are. As far as I know, we are the only primates that can’t oppose their big toe.
Thanks for rubbing that in…
I especially love the last photo. The chimp is looking at the foot, Like wow , I didn’t know it could do that. So cute. You don’t know how much I appreciate the photos and the stories. I wish that I could give more. Than You all.