Dermatoglyphics is the scientific study of fingerprint

Fingerprint

A fingerprint in its 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 hand. A print from the foot can also leave an impression of friction ridges...

s. The term was coined by Dr. Harold Cummins

Harold Cummins

Harold Cummins M.D. was a dermatoglyphics specialist, considered to be the father of dermatoglyphics. -References:...

, the father of American fingerprint analysis, even though the process of fingerprint identification had already been in use for several hundred years. All primate

Primate

A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...

s have ridged skin. It can also be found on the paws of certain mammal

Mammal

Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...

s, and on the tails of some monkey

Monkey

A monkey is a primate, either an Old World monkey or a New World monkey. There are about 260 known living species of monkey. Many are arboreal, although there are species that live primarily on the ground, such as baboons. Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent. Unlike apes, monkeys...

 species. In humans and animals, dermatoglyphs are present on fingers, palms, toes and soles.