Do Monkeys Have Opposable Thumbs?
Last Updated Mar 25, 2020 8:25:49 AM ET

Most, but not all monkeys have opposable thumbs. Old world monkeys, humans and apes have opposable thumbs, as do pandas and opossums.
An animal is said to have an opposable thumb if the thumb can be bent in a way that it can touch all the other fingers and toes on the same hand or foot. Generally, only primates have opposable thumbs but it is seen in other animals.
Primates that do not have use of an opposable thumb include the marmoset and the tarsier. Many monkeys, such as spider monkeys, have a thumb, but it is not opposable. The colobus has thumbs that do not move in the same way as an opposable thumb. Primates lacking this appendage often compensate by using their tails to aid in locomotion and other daily tasks.
More From Reference

10 Must-Watch TED Talks That Have the Power to Change Your Life

Strange Americana: Does Video Footage of Bigfoot Really Exist?

How the COVID-19 Pandemic Will Change In-Person Retail Shopping in Lasting Ways

Tips and Tricks for Making Driveway Snow Removal Easier

Here’s How Online Games Like Prodigy Are Revolutionizing Education

What Are the Steps of Presidential Impeachment?