Explore Adaptations
All living tetrapods (four-limbed vertebrates) inherited the same basic forelimb structure from their shared ancestor—one long bone in the top, two long bones in the middle, and five digits. Variations in the shape, size, and number of bones have evolved in different groups. Explore the forelimb adaptations of chameleons, Bambiraptor and aye-ayes in the videos below.
Clasp Like a Chameleon
Chameleons are a highly specialized group of lizards. One of their specializations is having grouped digits, or grasping hands and feet. Try this fun activity to learn out how chameleons’ hands differ from ours and learn to clasp like they do.
Be a Bambiraptor
Chameleons are a highly specialized group of lizards. One of their specializations is having grouped digits, or grasping hands and feet. Try this fun activity to learn out how chameleons’ hands differ from ours and learn to clasp like they do.
Act like an Aye-Aye
Aye-Ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis) are nocturnal primates with long fingers that they use for percussive foraging, or tapping on wood and using sound to detect cavities, and then gnaw holes to get to the food inside. We’ll show you how to make model fingers and branches, then you can try foraging using sound.