Wombats Don’t Have Fingerprints, But Koalas Do

(Part of the biometric product marketing expert series)

If you follow the Bredemarket blog, you know that it is populated by iguanas, wildebeests, and wombats.

None of which have fingerprints, which are restricted to primates…mostly.

It turns out that the wombat’s close relative, the koala, DOES have fingerprints.

Why?

Convergent evolution, which happens when unrelated animals (in this case primates and koalas) evolve identically in response to similar evolutionary pressures.

“Koalas are famously picky eaters who seek out eucalyptus leaves of a specific age. And…koalas may also need to grasp in similar ways to humans….

“The friction and sensitivity fingerprints afford may help them simultaneously hang onto trees and do the delicate work of picking particular leaves and discarding others—but hopefully not near a crime scene.”