Zeitschrift für Geographie und Naturkatastrophen
Offener Zugang
ISSN: 2167-0587
ISSN: 2167-0587
Michael Ebe NANDI, Olaleye Andrew OLABIYI, Evare Eze UZONG
Fingerprint is a unique biometric trait and the most commonly seen biological evidence in a crime scene that can be employed to individualize people from a population or categorize and ethnic descent.
This study focused on sexual dimorphism and ethnic differences of fingerprint pattern and ridge density among the Efik and Igbo population of Nigeria.
A total 173 subjects (Efik = 37 males, 44 females) and (Igbos = 61 males, 31 females). Randomly selected between the ages of 18-40 years. The subjects were asked to wash and dry their hands to remove dirt and grease. The fingers (thumbs) of both hands were smeared with removable ink and pressed in a white plane paper. Using meter rule, 25mm2 each was measured from radial border, ulnar border, and inferior quadrants respectively for fingerprint ridge density count. This data was analyzed using SPSS Software version 21 Chicago Incorporated.
The result of this study showed that both the males and females of Igbo ethnic descent had predominantly loop fingerprint pattern with the male to female ratio of 43% and 55% respectively. Meanwhile, the male and female of the Efik ethnic group recorded more whorl print pattern which recorded 54% and 50% respectively. Moreso, this results recorded sexual dimorphism (P<0.05) in the various ridge density count in the two ethnic groups. Similarly, the comparison of the quadrant-wise ridge density count of the males and females of Igbo and Efik t, showed statistical significant difference (p<0.05). The Igbos, irrespective of sex had more loop fingerprint pattern, contrary to the whorl fingerprint pattern predominantly amongst the Efiks.
The present results will be of immense relevance in forensic practice by unveiling the peculiarities of finger ridge density associated with gender and ethnic origin.