Why do animals need tails?

11/7/2017

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Nature Story: Why do animals need tails?

People do not have tails and live fine without thinking about it, but once a purring cat passes by, a thought can come to our eager mind: "Why does the cat need this thing?". Let's investigate the main advantages of having a tail.

Tails are different and have different functions. Thus we have to take a look at every tail individually.

A squirrel uses its big fluffy tail as a parachute and a rudder. When a squirrel jumps from a tree, its tail (as a parachute) helps her to land successfully.

Nature Story: A squirrel uses its big fluffy tail as a parachute and a rudder. When a squirrel jumps from a tree, its tail (as a parachute) helps her to land successfully. — pexels Public Domain Mark

Chipmunks can boast of the same ability.

A cunning fox covers up her steps with her tail so that dogs can't find it. Besides, the tail helps a fox quickly change the direction - a fox can turn 90 degrees while running.

Nature Story: A cunning fox covers up her steps with her tail so that dogs can't find it. Besides, the tail helps a fox quickly change the direction - a fox can turn 90 degrees while running. — pexels Public Domain Mark

The king of beasts can change the direction while jumping due to its tail. Like a fox, a lion uses its tail as a rudder.

A jerboa has long tail with a switch. It also uses it as a rudder, besides the tail helps a jerboa to keep balance while jumping.

Cows and horses bay the insects with their tails.

Kangaroos and anteaters use their tails as a leg to lean on.

The tail of a monkey has a function of an additional arm. You may observe a monkey hanging on a branch with the help of its tail only.

Birds need their tails to balance during the process of flying and landing. If they didn't have one they would strike against the ground with their beaks. Besides, they balance while sitting on thin objects like cables or branches.

Nature Story: Birds need their tails to balance during the process of flying and landing. If they didn't have one they would strike against the ground with their beaks. Besides, they balance while sitting on thin objects like cables or branches. — pexels Public Domain Mark

Interesting fact: warm-blooded animals move their tails vertically, while cold-blooded animals move them horizontally.

Thus we found out that tails are vital for animals in wildness. As for people, we move by feet and do not need to be on trees. We lost our tails as the result of the evolution.

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#animals #knowledge #Nature

What are your thoughts on this subject?

104 Comments

Paula M Hodges

What about cats using their tails as communication? Fluffed out, as defense, between their legs, submission, twitching as impatience, aggression or alertness, and curling around their humans leg as a sign of love.

Paul Bison

A fox covering it's tracks with it's tail, so that a dog can not follow it's footprint is absolutely wrong. A dog tracks by scent not sight, so I don't think the the fox's tail can eradicate it's scent.

johnginnane

Peacocks use their tail feathers for balance and to attract females for partnering...emus & ostrigers also use their tails for balance the eagles use their tails to stear themselves when close to the ground when catching prey also the platypus uses its tail similar to a rudder when under water...I knew most of your information I hope my information is correct?

JRW

lmoores, a dog hunting by scent alone would catch nothing! Sight is needed to make the kill. Try blindfolding any predator and see (pun intended) how much it catches.

Chris Garrett-Petts

Paula M Hodges, I think, cats speak to us with their tails

lmoores

Mammals move their tails horizontally as well vertically. Dogs hunt by scent not by sight. Birds also use their tails to help attract mates. Tails in all species are used for communication.

pfotias

Paula M Hodges, All true, fellow cat lover.

Jaimi McEntire

That is not a picture of a chipmunk. Chipmunks are very small. That is a big gray squirrel, about as far from a chipmunk as can be.

theotishaynes

Dogs also use their tails for various functions. A raised tail can indicate a sign of aggression . Wagging its tail will indicate playfulness or indicate hunger.

Rudy Datoc

Only men have tails but positioned in front not at the back though and it has purpose.

Steve Tingle

And it is a major means of communication for dogs

Steve Tingle

Minor point monkeys in the New world have prehensile tails which can grip branches, but old world monkeys it is only used for balance.

flanderschristy

I knew most of these but not all. Interesting. I would also add that since most animals have legs but no arms or hands, they use there tail the way we use our hands & arms. Example: Horses & cows use there tails to swat flies away, we use our arms & hands. Thanks for the info!

Sean Braden

Very interesting I did not know that warm blooded and cold blooded animals move their tails differently. I thought all animals moved their tails in basically the same way.