syndactylus

Syndactylus is a term used in biology with two principal senses. The name comes from Greek roots syn- “together” and daktylos “finger,” and it is the basis of the medical term syndactyly, the fusion of digits. In anatomy and medicine, syndactyly describes a condition in which two or more digits are fused, either by skin (cutaneous syndactyly) or by bone (true syndactyly). It occurs in humans and other species, is usually congenital, and may be isolated or part of a broader syndrome. The presentation ranges from mild, with partial soft-tissue fusion, to complete, with web-like fusion of entire digits. Treatment and prognosis depend on functional impairment and cosmetic concerns.

The genus Syndactylus is a taxonomic name that has appeared in zoological literature as a designation for a group of lizards in the family Gekkonidae. Historically, several gecko species were placed in Syndactylus, but subsequent taxonomic revisions have reassigned many species to other genera. As a result, the current status and species membership of Syndactylus vary among authorities, reflecting changes in phylogenetic understanding rather than a single stable definition.

The name remains of historical interest in discussions of digit morphology and the way taxonomic names reflect anatomical traits. See also syndactyly.