Hi Myra, The dew claw is not the equal of an opposable thumb, which is defined by its function. The function is different. The only animals (in addition to humans) that have an actual opposable thumb are the primates; the function has been to enable "single-handed" grasping/holding, and its evolution was invaluable in the development and use of primitive tools.
The dew claw is more analogous to the "big toe." In many if not most people (I doubt most of us know a lot of other primates personally), the big toe can be moved more independently than the other 4 toes. Its function relates to balance and (barefooted) traction. I think you're a nurse? Working these days with a geriatric population? Then you've probably seen people who lost toes (or worse) to diabetes. You've also probably observed that most people don't think of toes as all that important, until someone they know loses one or more. From what I've seen, with regard to the big toe in particular, its loss (amputation) can have an unexpectedly debilitative effect on an adult's former ability to walk normally, and often necessitates a stint of physical rehab. This is certainly not the case for dogs, because (1) dew claws are almost always amputated in infancy, and if this were the case for a human there would be compensation when learning to walk; and (2) the location of the dew claw isn't the same as the big toe, so the dew claw's value for traction is generally seen in more "extreme" activities, not everyday walking/running. That's why I said this is an analogy, not a *literal* comparison or equivalent. For what it's worth ... :) Alida << Since we are kind of/sort of on the subject of dewclaws again, I would like to ask a question of those of you who said that you believe that dogs use their dew claws to assist in climbing, etc. Are you saying that canines have an opposable thumb, because of course that is what the dew claw would be. It would be the equal to a thumb. Myra Savant >> ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 2002 by its original author.
