ANIMALS AND ENGLISH
  • Introduction
    • English Grammar + Animals
    • Acknowledgements
  • Animals Facts
    • Categories >
      • Feeding Categories
      • Phobia Categories
    • Camouflage
    • Amazing + Bizarre
    • Animal + Insect Eating Plants
    • Animal + Bird Tail Functions
    • Anthropomorphism
    • Extinct >
      • On the brink of extinction
    • Friendships to make you smile ...
    • Meanings
    • National Emblems
    • Newly Discovered Species
    • Newly Discovered Fossils
    • Sounds
    • Symbolism >
      • American Groundhog Day
      • The Chinese Calendar
      • Native American
      • Celtic Mythology
    • The Most Dangerous Species
  • Animals: A-Z
    • A >
      • Aardvarks >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Albatrosses >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Alligators >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Antelopes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Ants >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Apes and Monkeys >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Armadillos >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Auks >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Avocets >
        • Collective Noun
    • B >
      • Badgers >
        • Collective Nouns. etc.
      • Barracudas >
        • Collective Noun
      • Bats >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Bears >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Beavers >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Bees >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Beetles, Bugs + Insects >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Birds >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
        • Beaks ...
        • Feathers ... >
          • Collective Nouns, etc.
        • Tails
        • Wings ... >
          • Idioms, etc.
      • Bison + Buffalos >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Butterflies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Bush Babies >
        • Collective Nouns
    • C >
      • Camels >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Cats >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Cheetahs >
        • Collective Noun
      • Chickens >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Chimpanzees >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Chinchillas >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Cows and Bulls >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Coyotes >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Crocodiles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Crustaceans >
        • Collective Nouns
    • D >
      • Deer >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Dinosaurs >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Dogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Dolphins + Porpoises >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Donkeys + Mules >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Ducks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Dugongs >
        • Collective Nouns
    • E >
      • Eagles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Echidnas and Platypus >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Eels >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Eggs ... >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Elephants >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Emus >
        • Collective Noun
    • F >
      • Ferrets >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Fish >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Flies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Foxes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Frogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • G >
      • Geese >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Gerbils and Hamsters >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Giraffes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Goats >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • H >
      • Hares and Rabbits >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hawks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hedgehogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hippopotamuses >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Horses and Ponies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hyenas >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • J >
      • Jays >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Jellyfish >
        • Collective Nouns
    • K >
      • Kangaroos >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Koalas >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Komodo Dragons >
        • Collective Noun
    • L >
      • Lemurs >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Leopards >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Lions >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Lizards >
        • Collect Nouns
      • Llamas >
        • Collective Nouns
    • M >
      • Magpies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Manatees >
        • Collective Noun
      • Martens >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Meerkats >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Mice >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Moles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Molluscs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Mongoose >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Mosquitoes >
        • Collective Nouns
    • O >
      • Okapis >
        • Collective Noun
      • Ostriches >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Otters >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Owls >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Oxen >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • P >
      • Peacocks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Pigeons and Doves >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Pigs, Boars and Warthogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Polecats >
        • Collective Noun
      • Porcupines >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Prairie Dogs >
        • Collective Nouns
    • R >
      • Raccoons >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Rats >
        • Collective Noun, etc.
      • Rhinoceroses >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • S >
      • Salamanders >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Scorpions >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Sea Stars / Star Fish >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Sea Lions >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Seahorses >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Seals >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Sharks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Sheep >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Shrews >
        • Collective Noun
      • Skunks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Snakes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Spiders >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Springbok >
        • Collective Noun
      • Squirrels >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Starlings >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Stingrays >
        • Collective Noun
      • Stoats >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Swallows >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Swans >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Swifts >
        • Collective Nouns
    • T >
      • Tapirs >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Termites >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Thrushes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Ticks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Tigers >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Toads >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Tortoises and Turtles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Trout >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Turkeys >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Turtle Doves >
        • Collective Nouns
    • V >
      • Voles >
        • Collective Noun
      • Vultures >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • W >
      • Wallabies >
        • Collective Noun
      • Walruses >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Water Buffaloes >
        • Collective Noun
      • Wasps >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Weasles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Whales >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Wolverine >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Wolves >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Wombats >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Woodcocks >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Woodpeckers >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Worms >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Wrens >
        • Collective Nouns
    • Y >
      • Yaks >
        • Collective Nouns
    • Z >
      • Zebras >
        • Collective Nouns
  • Collective Nouns A-Z
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • H
    • I
    • J
    • K
    • L
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • P
    • Q
    • R
    • S
    • T
    • U
    • V
    • W
    • Y
    • Z
  • Similes -A-Z
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • H
    • I
    • L
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • P
    • Q
    • S
    • T
    • U and V
    • W
  • PET HEALTH AND TIPS
    • FMO BONES
    • HARMFUL FOODS
    • TIPS
  • WE LOVE DOODLES



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:
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 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


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


COURTSHI[P
     Many birds, including:
  • Lyrebirds
  • Peacocks


DECOY
                                                       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

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Acknowledgement:

​All the wonderful photographs on this site were collected via www.google.co.uk under the relevant animal category.  

Please click on each photograph to be linked to the original source. However, over time, many of the sites have taken down their photographs, so there will be no link.
Polly Healy
Copyright: 2013 - Concept 

ANIMALS AND ENGLISH
pollyhealy@live.co.uk   

________________________________________
Other sites:
www.englishlanguagetips.com 

www.smoothguide-mahjong.com
www.smoothguide-photography.com
www.smoothguide-kenyacoast.com

www.healyshandyhouseholdhints.com
​www.smoothguide-sunbury.com
  • Introduction
    • English Grammar + Animals
    • Acknowledgements
  • Animals Facts
    • Categories >
      • Feeding Categories
      • Phobia Categories
    • Camouflage
    • Amazing + Bizarre
    • Animal + Insect Eating Plants
    • Animal + Bird Tail Functions
    • Anthropomorphism
    • Extinct >
      • On the brink of extinction
    • Friendships to make you smile ...
    • Meanings
    • National Emblems
    • Newly Discovered Species
    • Newly Discovered Fossils
    • Sounds
    • Symbolism >
      • American Groundhog Day
      • The Chinese Calendar
      • Native American
      • Celtic Mythology
    • The Most Dangerous Species
  • Animals: A-Z
    • A >
      • Aardvarks >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Albatrosses >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Alligators >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Antelopes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Ants >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Apes and Monkeys >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Armadillos >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Auks >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Avocets >
        • Collective Noun
    • B >
      • Badgers >
        • Collective Nouns. etc.
      • Barracudas >
        • Collective Noun
      • Bats >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Bears >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Beavers >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Bees >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Beetles, Bugs + Insects >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Birds >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
        • Beaks ...
        • Feathers ... >
          • Collective Nouns, etc.
        • Tails
        • Wings ... >
          • Idioms, etc.
      • Bison + Buffalos >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Butterflies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Bush Babies >
        • Collective Nouns
    • C >
      • Camels >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Cats >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Cheetahs >
        • Collective Noun
      • Chickens >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Chimpanzees >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Chinchillas >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Cows and Bulls >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Coyotes >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Crocodiles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Crustaceans >
        • Collective Nouns
    • D >
      • Deer >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Dinosaurs >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Dogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Dolphins + Porpoises >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Donkeys + Mules >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Ducks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Dugongs >
        • Collective Nouns
    • E >
      • Eagles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Echidnas and Platypus >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Eels >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Eggs ... >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Elephants >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Emus >
        • Collective Noun
    • F >
      • Ferrets >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Fish >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Flies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Foxes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Frogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • G >
      • Geese >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Gerbils and Hamsters >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Giraffes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Goats >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • H >
      • Hares and Rabbits >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hawks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hedgehogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hippopotamuses >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Horses and Ponies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Hyenas >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • J >
      • Jays >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Jellyfish >
        • Collective Nouns
    • K >
      • Kangaroos >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Koalas >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Komodo Dragons >
        • Collective Noun
    • L >
      • Lemurs >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Leopards >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Lions >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Lizards >
        • Collect Nouns
      • Llamas >
        • Collective Nouns
    • M >
      • Magpies >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Manatees >
        • Collective Noun
      • Martens >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Meerkats >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Mice >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Moles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Molluscs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Mongoose >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Mosquitoes >
        • Collective Nouns
    • O >
      • Okapis >
        • Collective Noun
      • Ostriches >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Otters >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Owls >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Oxen >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • P >
      • Peacocks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Pigeons and Doves >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Pigs, Boars and Warthogs >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Polecats >
        • Collective Noun
      • Porcupines >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Prairie Dogs >
        • Collective Nouns
    • R >
      • Raccoons >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Rats >
        • Collective Noun, etc.
      • Rhinoceroses >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • S >
      • Salamanders >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Scorpions >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Sea Stars / Star Fish >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Sea Lions >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Seahorses >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Seals >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Sharks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Sheep >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Shrews >
        • Collective Noun
      • Skunks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Snakes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Spiders >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Springbok >
        • Collective Noun
      • Squirrels >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Starlings >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Stingrays >
        • Collective Noun
      • Stoats >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Swallows >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Swans >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Swifts >
        • Collective Nouns
    • T >
      • Tapirs >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Termites >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Thrushes >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Ticks >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Tigers >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Toads >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Tortoises and Turtles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Trout >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Turkeys >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Turtle Doves >
        • Collective Nouns
    • V >
      • Voles >
        • Collective Noun
      • Vultures >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
    • W >
      • Wallabies >
        • Collective Noun
      • Walruses >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Water Buffaloes >
        • Collective Noun
      • Wasps >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Weasles >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Whales >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Wolverine >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Wolves >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Wombats >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Woodcocks >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Woodpeckers >
        • Collective Nouns
      • Worms >
        • Collective Nouns, etc.
      • Wrens >
        • Collective Nouns
    • Y >
      • Yaks >
        • Collective Nouns
    • Z >
      • Zebras >
        • Collective Nouns
  • Collective Nouns A-Z
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • H
    • I
    • J
    • K
    • L
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • P
    • Q
    • R
    • S
    • T
    • U
    • V
    • W
    • Y
    • Z
  • Similes -A-Z
    • A
    • B
    • C
    • D
    • E
    • F
    • G
    • H
    • I
    • L
    • M
    • N
    • O
    • P
    • Q
    • S
    • T
    • U and V
    • W
  • PET HEALTH AND TIPS
    • FMO BONES
    • HARMFUL FOODS
    • TIPS
  • WE LOVE DOODLES