Ape-like feet ‘found in one in 13’
[Via BBC News | Science/Nature | World Edition]
About one in thirteen people has flexible “ape-like” feet – similar to those of an evolutionary relative – a study of museum visitors finds.
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Kind of cool. The feet of apes are very flexible, especially in the middle. They have something called a mid-tarsal break. This allows them to easily curve their feet around a tree trunk.
Humans do not have this break, having a much more rigid foot allowing great lever action for walking.In fact, it has been used as a distinctive aspect separating humans who walk from apes who climb.
So, imagine the dismay when the researchers found that 1 in 13 of us DO have a mid-tarsal break in our feet.
The easiest way to see is to walk on sand and observe the foot prints. Those with a mid-tarsal break will see a ridge across the middle of their feet. These people also have flatter feet and tend to walk on the outside of their feet (pronation).
One of the hallmarks of a Bigfoot footprint that supposed separates it from humans is a mid-tarsal break. This evidence makes it more likely that these are just human footprints.
A Man With A Ph.D. 