How many fingers do mice have on their paws?

How many fingers do mice have on their paws? - briefly

Mice have five digits on each forepaw, including a small thumb‑like dewclaw, and four digits on each hind paw.

How many fingers do mice have on their paws? - in detail

Mice possess distinct digit configurations on their front and rear limbs. The forelimbs, called the manus, contain five digits each. These digits are numbered I to V, with the first (thumb) being reduced but functional, supporting climbing and manipulation. The hind limbs, referred to as the pes, have four digits per foot, lacking a true fifth digit. Each digit ends in a sharp claw (unguis) that aids in digging, climbing, and grooming.

• Forelimb (manus)

  1. Digit I – small, opposable thumb‑like structure.
  2. Digit II – central finger, longest.
  3. Digit III – middle finger.
  4. Digit IV – fourth finger.
  5. Digit V – little finger, smallest.

• Hindlimb (pes)

  1. Digit I – absent; the foot begins with digit II.
  2. Digit II – first functional toe.
  3. Digit III – second toe.
  4. Digit IV – third toe.
  5. Digit V – fourth toe, the most posterior.

The skeletal arrangement mirrors that of other rodents, reflecting an evolutionary trend toward reduced hind‑foot digit count while retaining a full complement on the forelimb for dexterous tasks. Musculature and tendons associated with each digit allow precise movements, essential for the mouse’s nocturnal foraging and nesting behavior. Developmentally, digit formation follows the standard mammalian pattern, with the fifth hind‑foot digit regressing during embryogenesis, resulting in the final four‑digit configuration.