Animals use their tails for a wide variety of reasons! They might use them for things like balance, communication, movement, defense, signaling, prehension, and/or more.
Balance
Many animals use their tails to help them with being balanced and agile. You would see that in action here at Turpentine Creek, as cats in particular rely on their tails for that balance when climbing, jumping, or running. They might use their tails to stabilize themselves when making sharp turns or balancing on narrow surfaces. Think of how fast a cheetah is. They can use their tails like rudders on a ship to help them stay stabilized when on a high speed chase.
Locomotion
For many animals, tails play a crucial role in movement. Many aquatic animals like fish, whales, and dolphins use their tails for propulsion through water. Other animals like kangaroos and certain lizards use their tails to help with movement on land.
Communication
Tails are often used in social interactions to convey emotions or intentions. For example, dogs wag their tails to express excitement or friendliness, while a raised tail in some species signals aggression, dominance, or fear. Lions for example can communicate with their cubs using their tails as a sort of “follow” indicator.
Defense
Some animals use their tails as a defensive tool. For instance, some lizards can shed their tails to escape predators, whereas scorpions use their venomous tail stingers as a weapon for protection or to capture prey.
Sensory Input
Tails can also serve as sensory organs, helping animals gather information about their environment. Certain species use their tails to detect vibrations, air currents, or obstacles. For example, rats use their tails to explore tight spaces or sense nearby objects.
Prehension
Prehension is the ability to grasp or seize something. With species like primates or tree-dwelling animals, tails have evolved to function as a fifth limb. Some animals, like opossums or spider monkeys, have prehensile tails that can grasp branches or objects, aiding in climbing, carrying things, or hanging.
Mating
In some species, tails are used in courtship rituals or mating displays. The long, colorful tail feathers of peacocks would be a great example, where males display their tails to attract females.
Bug Deterrent
Tails also serve as a great tool for keeping insects off of animals. Many, like giraffes, zebras, cows, and more, use their tails to swat away pesky bugs!
Thermoregulation
Some animals use their tails to help regulate body temperature. For example, some mice and rats use their tails to help cool them off when its hot. On the other hand, some animals like foxes or squirrels may wrap their tails around their bodies to conserve warmth in cold environments.
Flying
Birds and flying animals often use their tails for aerodynamic purposes, stabilizing flight and steering. Birds like hawks and eagles use their tails to make sharp turns or control their speed in the air.
So why don’t humans have tails if they’re so useful? We might not use them today, but our ancestors did have tails. Scientists concur that the loss of tails for us occurred when we began walking upright, and tails were no longer needed for things like balance.