A fingerprint in it's narrow sense is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. In a wider use of the term, fingerprints are the traces of an impression from the friction ridges of any part of a human or other primate hand.
A print from the foot can also leave an impression of friction ridges. A friction ridge is a raised portion of the epidermis on the fingers and toes, the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot, consisting of one or more connected ride units of friction ridge skin.
Not many animals have fingerprints, in fact, only humans, primates and koalas have this curious characteristic.
However, koala fingerprints are extremely similar to human fingerprints that even with an electron microscope; it’s difficult to tell them apart.Evolutionary Biologists think this is because our ancestors climbed trees in a similar fashion.
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