Nature & Environment
December 26, 2011 ·
6 comments
Image Credit: Sandra Fenley
Source: BBC News | Comments (6)
Do elephants have six toes ?
By T.K. RandallDecember 26, 2011 ·
6 comments
Image Credit: Sandra Fenley
Scientists have determined that a long-debated bony growth on elephants' feet is actually a sixth toe.
The growth has been a subject of discussion amongst researchers for over 300 years and for a long time was thought to be nothing but a lump of cartilage with no specific purpose, but now scientists have been able to determine that the growth acts as a sixth toe to help support the elephants' massive weight. "It's a cool mystery that goes back to 1706, when the first elephant was dissected by a Scottish surgeon," said Professor John Hutchinson.For more than 300 years, the structure has puzzled researchers, but this study suggests that it helps to support elephants' colossal weight. Fossils reveal that this "pre-digit" evolved about 40 million years ago, at a point when early elephants became larger and more land-based.
Source: BBC News | Comments (6)
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