Dermatoglyphs in the Southern Nigerian population.

Dermatoglyphic features of 200 male and 200 female normal Southern Nigerian negroes have been analysed. The frequency distributions of fingerprint patterns, digital and total ridge counts TRC, a-b scores and atd angles are given. In common with other races, the Southern Nigerian population showed the tendency for females to have more arches than males. Like the Zulus of Southern Africa, Southern Nigerian Negroes showed a significant sex difference in the atd angle but the Southern Nigerians have a significantly higher TRC than those previously reported for the Zulu. This study, contrary to previous studies, suggests that low TRC is not a negroid dermatoglyphic trait.