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Why do humans have finger/toenails? (lemm.ee)

submitted 2 months ago by ALostInquirer@lemm.ee to c/nostupidquestions@mander.xyz

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They seem like one more bodily detail to tend to without much benefit, and sometimes more detriment (breaking a nail or scratching oneself up, ouch!).

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[–] rumschlumpel 15 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Every other mammal has finger/toenails, most of them make very good use of it, others not that much (e.g. elephant toenails look pretty useless). Organisms don't necessarily keep inherited traits because they're useful, but because they're not very detrimental.

[–] addictedtochaos@lemm.ee 1 points 2 months ago

as a person with burned fingers and having lost two nails:

you absolutely need:

the feeling in your fingertips and nails

if you want to pick up or manipulate finicky things.

i cant pick up coins with my left hand, when i am at the supermarked check out.

i lost the nail at the thumb, the thumb is very important for digit function