Human toes, long removed from their tree-gripping days, are mostly noticed only when they are stubbed or exposed in sandals. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

Losing the ability to grip branches with them may seem like a backward step, given how much cooler our commutes would be if we swung into work like Tarzan. However, the shorter, stubbier little piggies we are stuck with now give us several advantages, including helping us to run.

In one 2009 experiment , researchers tested the efficiency of various toe lengths in humans, finding that individuals with longer toes had to expend a lot more energy to run, suggesting an advantage for smaller toes for us bipeds. Another study found, however, that sprinters tend to

See Full Page