What Animals Have Similar Fingerprints to Humans?

Fingerprints are small ridges found on the ends of a person's fingers. They provide traction when someone grips a smooth object, similar to the way treads on a tire grip a wet road. Everyone's fingerprints are unique and can be used as a means of positive identification. Several species of animals have developed fingerprints that are also distinctive to the individual and can be used to track them as they move about in the wild.

Primates

• All primates develop unique fingerprints. The members of the Great Ape family, including orangutans, gorillas and chimpanzees, have hands and feet similar to human hands. Fingerprints on their hands and feet, along with opposable thumbs and big toes, allow them to easily grip food, objects and branches.

Prehensile Primate Tails

• Some primates with tails have fingerprint-like ridges on them. Many "New World" primates, found in Central and South America, have been found to have unique prints on their prehensile tails that help them grip branches. These primates, such as the howler and spider monkeys, have tactile pads on their tails similar to the ones on the tips of their fingers.

Koalas

• Koalas have unique fingerprints similar in design and shape to human prints. Koalas are expert climbers and use their paws to grip tree limbs and leaves. Koalas are members of the marsupial family that developed fingerprints completely independently from primates and are the only known marsupial to have them.

Other Unique Prints

• Other animal body parts can be used for identification if the animal does not have fingerprints. The ends of snouts on many animals, such as pigs and dogs, are unique to those animals. On other animals, including humans, the unique shape of an ear and the ear canal can be used for identification purposes.

source "www.ehow.com