Rat tails are prehensile and can also help keep the animal cool.
An animal’s tail can serve the animal in many different ways. When this question is asked, you see explanations of this primarily as a measure of balance for the animal. Tree species may require very specific balance when walking on thin tree limbs. Even in a cat, where the tail is not always useful, its mechanism allows it to “land on its feet” if the cat falls.
Monkeys can use their tails as an additional limb.
Other tree species, such as possums, have tails that can help them hang from trees and grab onto branches as needed. Many primates, such as lemurs, also use it to increase their ability to climb trees and maintain balance. However, balance is not the only explanation.
In many New World monkeys, the tails are prehensile. The prehensile tail allows the animal to grasp or grasp it. It can cling to tree branches or even steal food from bushes. This really serves as an extra hand. Some animals have what is called a partially prehensile tail. Cannot be used to gather food, but can be used to hold down trees. Animals with partially prehensile tails include mice, porcupines, and anteaters, as well as reptiles such as snakes and many species of lizards and newts.
Scorpions can use their tails as a weapon.
A tail can have completely different functions for an animal. Evidently, a horse does not need to cling to or cling to trees. Horses and other farm animals, such as cows, use their tails primarily for comfort. Its hissing action can help prevent annoying flies from biting the animal. Many other animals have this swatting action, such as the giraffe, the zebra, and the elephant.
Dolphins use their tails to propel themselves through the water.
The tail and its feathers in birds can serve in many ways. First, in flying birds, it can be used to direct and improve aerodynamics during flight. Flightless birds like penguins use them when swimming to change direction. The tails of male birds often help attract mates. Nowhere is this more evident than in the peacock, which has elaborate feathers designed to pique the interest of peahens.
In marine animals, tails are extremely important. The dolphin’s powerful tail thrusts push it forward faster. In many species of fish, it also promotes better and faster swimming and directional abilities.
Crocodiles use their tails as a weapon.
The lizard’s tail may be partially prehensile, but is also used as a defense mechanism. When lizards try to escape predators, many of them have tails that can be safely detached. This allows the lizard to escape from a predator that grabs it. Also, the lizard can create a new one after being separated, so it can live to defend itself one more day.
A male peacock’s tail is used to attract a mate.
There are some very specialized glues in the animal kingdom. The rattle at the end of the rattlesnake is a warning to predators to stay away. Deer use their tails to communicate potential danger. The powerful stinger at the end of the scorpion’s tail is an excellent weapon, as is the crocodile’s long, strong tail. Badgers have gnats, useful for swimming and giving warnings, and dogs use them to communicate emotion. Animal-specific benefits are often wonderfully tailored to the needs of the animal.