• Question: Why do fingers and toes wrinkle when left in water?

    Asked by anon-174278 to Alex, Carl, Hayley, Melanie, Tim, Yewande on 18 Jun 2018.
    • Photo: Alex Seeney

      Alex Seeney answered on 18 Jun 2018:

      The theory is that this is an evolutionary adaptation – our early ancestors foraged and hunted in rivers and wet vegetation. The wrinkles make it easier to grip things that are wet, hence the wrinkled fingers.

    • Photo: Carl Barford

      Carl Barford answered on 18 Jun 2018:

      They are not waterproof, so water soaks in and makes them swell. People who stay in water for many days loose their nails

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