'' (Arctic fox) sleeping with its tail wrapped as a blanket. Animal tails are used in a variety of ways. They provide a source of
thrust for
aquatic locomotion for
fish,
otters,
cetaceans and
crocodilians and other forms of
marine life.
Terrestrial species of vertebrates that do not need to swim, e.g.
cats and
kangaroos, instead use their tails for
balance; and some, such as
monkeys and
opossums, have grasping
prehensile tails, which are adapted for
arboreal locomotion. Many animals use their tail for utility purposes, for example many
grazing animals, such as
horses and
oxen, use their tails to drive away
parasitic flies and sweep off other biting insects. Some animals with broad, furry tails (e.g.
foxes) often wrap the tail around the body as means of
thermal insulation like a
blanket. Some species' tails serve
aggressive functions, either
predatorily or
defensively. For example, the tails of
scorpions have a
stinger that contain
venom, which can be used to either kill large prey or to fight off a threat. Similarly,
stingrays have a thickened
spine that can deliver
penetrating trauma.
Thresher sharks are known to use their long tails to stun prey. Many species of snakes wiggle their tails
as a lure to attract prey, who may mistake the tail as a
worm. The extinct
armored dinosaurs (
stegosaurs and
ankylosaurs) have tails with
spikes or
clubs as defensive weapons against predators. Tails are also used for
communication and
signalling. Most
canines use their tails to communicate mood and intention. Some
deer species flash the white underside of their tails to warn other nearby deer of possible danger, beavers slap the water with their tails to indicate danger,
felids raise and quiver their tails while
scent-marking, and
canids (including domestic
dogs) indicate
emotions through the positioning and movement of their tails.
Rattlesnakes perform
tail vibration to generate a distinct rattling noise that signals aggression and warns potential predators to stay away. Some species of
lizard (e.g.
geckos) can
self-amputate ("cast") their tails from their bodies to help them escape
predators, which are either distracted by the wriggling detached tail or only manages to seize the severed tail while the lizard flees. Tails cast in this manner generally grow back over time, though the replacement is typically darker in colour than the original and contains only
cartilage, not bone. Various species of
rat demonstrate a similar function with their tails, known as
degloving, in which the outer layer is shed in order for the animal to escape from a predator. Most birds' tails end in long
feathers called
rectrices. These feathers are used as a rudder, helping the bird steer and maneuver in
flight; they also help the bird to balance while it is perched. In some species—such as
birds of paradise,
lyrebirds, and most notably
peafowl—modified tail feathers play an important role in
courtship displays. The extra-stiff tail feathers of other species, including
woodpeckers and
woodcreepers, allow them to brace themselves firmly against tree trunks. == Neuronal control ==