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

FOR BALANCE

• Alligators - For swimming
• Badgers - For swimming
• Birds - For flying and for sitting on branches
• Cats - For balance when walking along narrow areas.  It also allows the cat to land safely on its feet if it falls
• Cheetahs - For balance when running at speed
• Crocodiles - For swimming
• Fish - For swimming
• Kangaroos - For balance when sitting up
• Meerkats - For balance when standing up
• Moles - As an aid for moving backwards in the burrow
• Monkeys - For balance when moving within narrow spaces
• Squirrels - For balance when jumping from tree to tree
• Tigers - For balance when running at fast speed
• Woodpeckers - To help to brace themselves against tree trunks

​FOR COMMUNICATION

• ​Cats -     Anger, greeting, happiness

• Dogs -    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

FOR COURTSHIP
Many birds, including:

• Lyrebirds
• Peacocks

AS A DECOY

• Lizards  -  Detach their tails to food a predator, allowing it to escape.  The tail will regrow.

GRASPING OBJECTS AND HOLDING ON
Prehensile Tails                               To pull food off bushes

• Monkeys                                           To hold on to branches and hang from trees

Partially Prehensile Tails

• Anteaters
  
• Lizards (some)
  
• Newts (some)
  
• Rats
  
• Snakes
  
• Tree Porcupines

MARKING TERRITORY

• Hippopotamuses - Use their tails to swish their poo around to mark their territory

RUDDERS

• Cheetahs  -  To enable them to make sharp turns when running
• Dolphins  -  For thrust and direction
• Fish  -  To change direction when swimming
• Otters  -  For swimming
• Tigers  -  To enable them to make sharp turns when running

SWATTING FLIES

• Cows
• Elephants
• Giraffes
• Boats
• Horses
• Zebras

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

• ​Rats and Mice  -  by constricing and dilating their tail blood vessels

WARNING SIGNALS

• Cats - Swish their tails from side to side
• Rattlesnakes - Rattle their tails as a warning to stay away

WEAPONS

• Alligators - Swing their tails to cause damage
• Crocodiles - Swing their tails to cause damage
• Scorpions  -  Sting with their tails