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
TAILS
Here are just a few examples of how animals use their tails:
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 the cat 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
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
     Many birds, including:
  • Lyrebirds
  • Peacocks
                                                       Lizards                                    
Detach their tails to fool a predator, allowing it to escape. The tail will regrow
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
Hippopotamuses 
Use their tails to swish their poo around to mark their territory
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
        ​Cows
        Elephants
        Giraffes
        Goats
        Horses
        Zebras
     Rats and Mice
By constricting and dilating their tail blood vessels
Cats 
Rattlesnakes
Swish their tails from side to side
Rattle their tails as a warning to stay away
   ​ Alligators 
    Crocodiles 
    Scorpions 
Swings its tail to cause damage
Swings its tail to cause damage
Stings with its tail