How many fingers does a rat have on its paws? - briefly
Rats have five digits on each forepaw, the first acting as a thumb, while each hind paw bears four digits. This digit arrangement is consistent across common laboratory and wild species.
How many fingers does a rat have on its paws? - in detail
Rats possess five digits on each forelimb and four on each hindlimb. The forepaws include four functional toes and a reduced, claw‑like digit, often called the “thumb,” which is not opposable. The hind paws lack this reduced digit, resulting in a total of nine toes per hind leg. Consequently, a typical laboratory rat has a total of eighteen digits: ten on the front and eight on the rear.
Key points:
- Forelimbs: 4 weight‑bearing toes + 1 reduced digit (thumb) = 5 per side.
- Hindlimbs: 4 weight‑bearing toes, no thumb = 4 per side.
- Total per animal: 5 × 2 (front) + 4 × 2 (rear) = 18 digits.
The reduced digit on the forepaw is morphologically distinct, bearing a small claw and serving primarily for grooming rather than manipulation. Hind‑paw digits are uniform and support locomotion. This digit arrangement is consistent across Rattus norvegicus and related rodent species.