ABSTRACT
Cheiloscopy, the study of lip prints is an upcoming tool for the identification of persons. The lip print of every person is unique and can be used to fix personal identity. Previous work done on the subject also reveals that lip prints show differences according to the race and the ethnic origins of a person. This study was taken up to determine the predominant lip print type in Kerala population. 50 male and 50 female subjects of Kerala origin were included in the study and the middle 1 cm of the lower lip was taken as the study area. The lip prints were recorded by applying lipstick on the lips, then cellophane tape was applied on the lips and the prints were taken. These prints were studied and classified according to Tsuchihashi’s classification of Type I (complete vertical grooves), Type I‟ (incomplete vertical grooves), Type II (forking grooves), Type III (intersect-ing grooves), Type IV (reticular grooves) and Type V (undetermined grooves). The predominant type in each qua-drant was noted and the percentage was calculated. It was found that Type IV (reticular grooves) was the predomi-nant pattern.