Mysterious deciphering more than 300 years in elephants

A mysterious bone over the past three centuries in the elephant's foot has now been identified as the sixth toe of this large animal.

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For more than 300 years, the strange structure of the elephant's feet has caused many generations of scientists to suffer because it cannot be explained.

Fossils show that this bone grew about 40 million years ago, at a time when the early generations of elephants became larger and moved to land.

However, the new research results suggest that it works to support the heavy weight of this thick skin, according to Science.

The chief researcher, Professor John Hutchinson of the mysterious Royal Veterinary University of England, started in 1706, when a Scottish anatomist dissected the first elephant.

Many people think that the mysterious bone is a large cartilage, and for a long time the specific role of this cartilage is controversial in the scientific world.

'Anyone who studies elephant feet asks about its existence. And they think: "weird", and then ignore it , "said Hutchinson.

After combining many analytical methods, from CT scans, anatomy, electron microscopes ., Hutchinson's team finally discovered the mystery.

Accordingly, this structure is made from bone, although the bone seems to be an extremely unusual arrangement in such a position.

But after careful inspection, the scientists found it to be similar to the bone fragment in the paws of the panda.

In the case of the panda, this bone is not really a finger, but it takes on a separate mission, helping the panda tear the bamboo / bamboo, and is therefore called the sixth finger.

The mole rat also has a piece of bone impersonated as an extra finger, helping them dig up the soil.

And with the discovery of British experts, elephants can be listed as dissatisfied with only 5 fingers or toes.

Unlike pandas or mole rats, only 'fake' fingers in the forelimbs, elephants add 'fingers' in all four feet, making them stand upright.