Considerations of Function in Macaque Dermatoglyphics

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Abstract
Epidermal patterns on the palms of 44 male and 53 female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatto) were studied for possible functional relationships to hand use. The palmar-pattern areas fell into three distinct groupings, namely: (a) thenar and hypothenardistal areas which had mostly open fields and loops, (b) hypothenar-proximal and interdigital I areas which had about equal proportions of loops and whorl patterns, and (c) the interdigitals II, III, and IV which were almost entirely composed of whorls. These groupings were used to suggest that either epidermal patterns themselves are directly related to monkey hand use during manipulatory and locomotor activities, or that the patterns reflect the degree of volar-pad development which in turn is related to activities of the hand.

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