Guinea pigs are a fairly popular pet, and they are a common alternative to cats and dogs. They normally have relatively large heads and eyes, as well as fewer toes than most mammals. However, sometimes Guinea pigs will grow extra toes in a condition called polydactyly. It is commonly cited as an atavism and evidence for universal common descent by suggesting that it shows they descended from five-toed ancestors.
Normally Guinea pigs have four toes on their front feet and three toes on their hind feet. These toes are important in both their mobility and grooming such that a deviation from these numbers can cause problems.
Polydactyly is a birth defect that results in an abnormal number of fingers and toe or toes. One of the primary causes of this condition regardless of species, is that sometimes it is inherited meaning that at least sometimes It is the result of a genetic defect. However, there are times when environmental conditions can affect fetal development, and this can be another cause.
Polydactyly occurs in other mammals including humans that normally have five fingers or toes. This realistically eliminates it as an evolutionary throwback, because not only the evolutionists are arguing that humans and other mammals descended from ancestors with six fingers and toes. In fact, it is the commonality of five digits that evolution is commonly tried to use as evidence for common descent. In this case, they are literally trying to have it both ways.
Consequently, extra toes and Guinea pigs cannot be considered either an atavism or evidence for universal common descent because it results from a common genetic defect found in another species which normally has five digits. This is an example of evolutionists being desperate for evidence and using examples that are easily proven false when investigated.
