Dermatoglyphic parameters of 24 PWS individuals, 14 males, 10 females, were examined using standard techniques. Nomenclature followed that of Schaumann & Alter (1976). There were no differences found in the position of the axial triradius or the frequency of hypothenar patterns, but there was a decrease in fingertip ulnar loop patterns in both sexes with an increase in whorls in males (P less than 0.01) and whorls and arches in females (P less than 0.05). In males, the main line A terminated in the thenar area on the left palm more frequently than in the controls (P less than 0.01) and generally the main line A terminated low in both sexes. The total finger ridge counts were not different from controls indicating smaller than usual pattern size. Of 48 hallucal patterns, 26 were loops, 21 were whorls and there was one arch. This study confirms previous data that there are no pathognomonic dermatoglyphic distortions in PWS.