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Why can’t I wiggle my toes one at a time, like my fingers?

  • Written by Steven Lautzenheiser, Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology, University of Tennessee
imageA baby chimp can grab a stick equally well with its fingers and its toes.Anup Shah/Stone via Getty Images

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com.


Why can’t I wiggle my toes individually, like I can with my fingers? –...

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