In Other Animals
The contrahentes of the fourth digit is absent in dogs but present in cats and rabbits.
In primates, the contrahentes vary in number between zero and four. By their insertion onto the proximal phalanges they facilitate convergence of the digits.
In tarsiers, they facilitate the grip by increasing the pressure between the large distal pads and the gripped surface by simultaneously flexing the metacarpophalangeal joints and the proximal interphalangeal joints and extending the distal interphalangeal joints.
Read more about this topic: Contrahens
Famous quotes containing the word animals:
“Man is head, chest and stomach. Each of these animals operates, more often than not, individually. I eat, I feel, I even, although rarely, think.... This jungle crawls and teems, is hungry, roars, gets angry, devours itself, and its cacophonic concert does not even stop when you are asleep.”
—René Daumal (1908–1944)