Editing Finger (section)

== Land vertebrate fingers ==
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| image1 = Fingers of a treefrog.jpg
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| caption1 = Fingers of a [[European tree frog|tree frog]] ([[amphibian]])
| image2 = Pores pédieux mâle T.gracilis.jpg
| caption2 = Fingers of a [[red-eyed crocodile skink]] ([[reptile]])
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| image1 = Squirrel eating 2.jpg
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| caption1 = [[Sciurus vulgaris|Red squirrel]] holding food with its fingers ([[mammal]])
| image2 = Fingers of a bat - Corynorhinus townsendii.jpg
| caption2 = Fingers of a [[Bats|bat]] ([[mammal]])
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As terrestrial vertebrates were [[evolution|evolve]]d from [[lobe-finned fish]], their forelimbs are [[phylogeny|phylogenetically]] equivalent to the [[pectoral fin]]s of fish. Within the [[taxon|taxa]] of the terrestrial vertebrates, the basic pentadactyl plan, and thus also the [[metacarpal]]s and [[phalanges]], undergo many variations.<ref>Rüdiger Wehner, [[Walter Gehring]]: ''Zoologie''. Thieme Verlag Stuttgart/ New York, 1990, pp. 550 and 723-726.</ref>
[[morphology (biology)|Morphologically]] the different fingers of terrestrial vertebrates are [[homology (biology)|homolog]]. The wings of birds and those of [[bats]] are not homologous, they are [[analogy (biology)|analogue]] flight organs. However, the [[phalanges]] within them are homologous.<ref>[[Neil A. Campbell]], [[Jane B. Reece]]: ''Biology.'' Heidelberg/ Berlin 2003, pp. 515-517 and 583.</ref>

[[Pan (genus)|Chimpanzee]]s have [[lower limb]]s that are specialized for manipulation, and (arguably) have fingers (instead of [[toe]]s) on their lower limbs as well. In the case of [[primates]] in general, the digits of the hand are overwhelmingly referred to as "fingers".<ref>"It is generally accepted that the precision grip and independent finger movements (IFMs) in monkey and man are controlled by the direct (monosynaptic) [[Primary motor cortex#Pathway|corticomotoneuronal (CM) pathway]]." {{cite journal |last1=Sasaki |first1=Shigeto  |last2=et |first2=al. |year=2004 |title=Dexterous Finger Movements in Primate Without Monosynaptic Corticomotoneuronal Excitation |url=https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/jn.00342.2004 |journal=Journal of Neurophysiology |volume=92 |issue= 5|pages=3142–3147 |doi=10.1152/jn.00342.2004 |pmid=15175371 |access-date=6 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Dominy  |first=Nathaniel J. |year=2004 |title=Fruits, Fingers, and Fermentation: The Sensory Cues Available to Foraging Primates |url=https://academic.oup.com/icb/article/44/4/295/800278 |journal=Integrative and Comparative Biology |volume=44 |issue=4 |pages=295–303 |doi=10.1093/icb/44.4.295
 |pmid=21676713 |access-date=6 September 2021|doi-access=free }}</ref> Primate fingers have both [[fingernails]] and [[fingerprints]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Yum |first1=S.M. |last2=et |first2=al. |year=2020 |title=Fingerprint ridges allow primates to regulate grip |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=117 |issue=50 |pages=31665–31673 |doi=10.1073/pnas.2001055117 |pmid=33257543 |pmc=7749313 |bibcode=2020PNAS..11731665Y |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Research has been carried out on the [[embryonic development]] of [[domestic fowl|domestic chickens]] showing that an [[interdigital webbing]] forms between the tissues that become the toes, which subsequently regresses by [[apoptosis]]. If apoptosis fails to occur, the interdigital skin remains intact. Many animals have developed [[Webbed foot|webbed feet]] or skin between the fingers from this like the [[Wallace's flying frog]].<ref>V. Garcia-Martinez, D. Macias et al: ''[https://journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/106/1/201/23837/Internucleosomal-DNA-fragmentation-and-programmed Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the interdigital tissue of the embryonic chick leg bud].'' In: ''Journal of Cell Science.'' Vol. 6, Issue 1, September 1993, pp. 201-208.</ref><ref>M. A. Fernandez-Teran, J. M. Hurle: ''[https://journals.biologists.com/dev/article/84/1/159/51483/Syndactyly-induced-by-Janus-Green-B-in-the Syndactyly induced by Janus Green B in the embryonic chick leg bud: a reexamination]''. In Development, Volume 8, Issue 1, December 1984, pp. 159–175.</ref><ref>Sajid Malik: ''[https://www.nature.com/articles/ejhg201214 Syndactyly: phenotypes, genetics and current classification].'' In: ''European Journal of Human Genetics.'' Vol. 20, 2012, pp. 817–824.</ref>