Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Science
Nicola Davis Science correspondent

Primates with longer thumbs tend to have bigger brains, research finds

A ring-tailed lemur at ZSL Whipsnade zoo.
A ring-tailed lemur at ZSL Whipsnade zoo. Baker and colleagues studied the estimated brain mass and thumb length of 94 primate species, from five of our ancient hominin relatives to lemurs. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

Big hands might mean big feet, but it seems long thumbs are linked to large brains – at least in primates.

Researchers say the results suggest the brain co-evolved with manual dexterity in such mammals.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.