Animal and Bird Tail Functions 
  • Tails do have a function, and these functions vary from animal species to animal species.  
  • Most animal vertebrates have tails.  Most vertebrates had tails during at least one part of its development - for instance, a tadpole has a tail before it becomes a frog.
  • Some types of tail have names, for instance:
        -  A bird's tail feathers  ...........................................  Rectrices
        -  A deer's tail  ...................................................….....  A scut
        -  A Fox's tail  ...................................................……....  A brush
        -  A rabbit's/hare's tail  ...........................................  A scut

Here are just a few examples of how animals use their tails:
Balance
Alligators ...................................
Badgers .....................................
Birds ............................................
Cats .............................................

Cheetahs ...................................
Crocodiles .................................
Fish ..............................................
Kangaroos ................................
Meerkats ....................................
Moles ..........................................
Monkeys ....................................
Rats and Mice .........................
Squirrels ....................................
Tigers .........................................
Woodpeckers ..........................
For swimming
For swimming
For flying and for sitting on branches
For balance when walking along narrow areas
It also allows it to land safely on its feet, if it falls
For balance when running at speed
For swimming
For swimming
For balance when sitting up
For balance when standing up
As an aid for moving backwards in the burrow
For balance when jumping from tree to tree
For balance when moving within narrow spaces
For balance when jumping from tree to tree
For balance when running at fast speed
To help to brace themselves against tree trunks
Communication
Cats ................................................
Dogs ...............................................
To show anger, greeting, happiness
To show:
  • aggression  - tail straight out or sometimes wagging the tip
  • dominance  - tail straight up
  • fear               - tail tucked between hind legs
  • greeting       - wagging tail
  • happiness    - wagging tail
  • warmth        - outdoor dogs with furry tails tuck them  around themselves
Courthip
     Many birds, including:
  • Lyrebirds
  • Peacocks
Decoys
Lizards ......................................
Detach their tails to fool a predator, allowing it to escape.  The tail will regrow
Grasping Objects and Holding on
Prehensile Tails
Monkeys ....................................

Partially Prehensile Tails
Anteaters
Lizards (some)
Newts (some)
Rats
Snakes
Tree porcupines

To hold on to branches and hang from trees
To pull food off bushes
Marking Territory
Hippopotamuses .................
Use their tails to swish their poo around to mark their territory
Rudders
Cheetahs ...............................
Dolphins ................................
Fish .........................................
Otters .....................................
Tigers.......................................
To enable them to make sharp turns when running
For thrust and direction
To change direction when swimming
For swimming
To enable them to make sharp turns when running
Swatting Flies
        Cows
        Elephants
        Giraffes
        Goats
        Horses
        Zebras
Temperature Control
     Rats and Mice ......................
By constricting and dilating their tail blood vessels
Warning Signal
Cats .........................................
Rattlesnakes ........................
Swish their tails from side to side
Rattle their tails as a warning to stay away
Weapons
    Alligators ...............................
    Crocodiles ..............................
    Scorpions ...............................
Swings its tail to cause damage
Swings its tail to cause damage
Stings with its tail