Do you know why animals need tails?

Many, if not most, animals have a tail. We humans are deprived of such happiness, so we may have a question: why is it needed at all? After all, it’s good without him. Well, as upright primates, the tail would actually be more of a hindrance than a help, so over the course of evolution we got rid of it. But it brings tangible benefits to other species.

Provides balance

The idea that it would be nice to use the tail as a counterweight originated with Mother Nature hundreds of millions of years ago. Scientists believe that dinosaurs, for example, the same Tyrannosaurus rex, could shake tails from side to side when walking to balance the heavy head and body. This allowed them to move quickly on two legs and even run while chasing prey.

Modern animals use tails in a similar way. Kangaroos use them for balance when jumping in open areas. Cats, squirrels and other animals that can climb trees also have thick, long tails

help balancing - much like a tightrope walker's pole.

Serves as an extra limb

For the same kangaroos, for example, the tail serves as a kind of third leg, with which they push off the ground while jumping. And animals like monkeys and possums able grab tree branches with it, like an extra hand. The tails of monkeys are so trained that can hold the animal even when the rest of its limbs are occupied with something else, such as eating.

Helps to swim

In fact, before fish decided to conquer land and evolve into amphibians hundreds of millions of years ago, tails were only used for maneuvering in water. In the course of evolution, it was from the caudal fins of ancient fish that the tails of modern animals were obtained.

In marine mammals - dolphins and whales - these fins still strongly resemble fish and also serve for movement in water. Smaller animals - beavers and otters - also swim with the help of powerful flat tails.

Finally, the tails of reptiles and amphibians such as crocodiles, alligators, salamanders and axolotls Also adapted for movement in the aquatic environment.

Supports in flight

Birds need a tail to stabilize them in flight and achieve the necessary aerodynamics. In addition, birds use it to maintain balance when sitting on branches. And birds like woodpeckers and dart frogs have hard tail feathers allow rest firmly on the tree trunk while the beak chisels the bark in search of insects.

Used as a weapon

Tails of some animals turned into into weapons. For example, when stingrays are attacked by a predator, they defend themselves with a sting located at the back of their body. The same is true for many insects. They use it to stab and even poison opponents. And some parasitic wasps have a sting performs at the same time the function of the ovipositor, through which they lay eggs straight into the victim's body.

Also for pricking their tails use Scorpios. By the way, they belong to arachnid arthropods, and not to insects, as many people think.

Replaces a fly swatter

Individual animals apply tail for protection without even turning it into a deadly weapon. Typical examples include horses, cows, donkeys and other livestock, as well as wildebeest, giraffes and North American bison. They all wave their tails to drive away blood-sucking insects. You’re standing in your pasture, chewing gum, and if someone sits on your butt, that is, on your croup, horsefly - you can swat it with your tail like a fly swatter.

What to do if the bloodsucker sits not on the croup, but on the scruff of the neck, where you can’t reach? This is where evolution overlooked something. All that remains is to either grow the tail longer, or learn to put the hooves behind the back.

Distracts the enemy

Some species of lizards can separate tail from the body. If a predator grabs a reptile by the back, it will instantly decide that this tail is his. not so much he is needed - and will throw it away. While the aggressor finishes eating the twitching stump, the lizard may have time to escape. Over time, a new tail grows in place of the lost one, although it is usually darker in color and contains cartilage rather than bone.

And in rats, for example, the skin on the tail is not as tightly connected to the muscles as to the rest of the body. Therefore, if grab a rodent by the tail, it can break free and run away, leaving only a flap of skin in the predator’s mouth.

The already mentioned scorpions are also capable of throwing away the back of their body in moments of danger. Moreover, such a decision is especially difficult for them, because without a tail they not capable defecate. So a male scorpion that has lost its tail will run to look for a female in order to have time to leave offspring before dying of constipation.

Gives signals

Finally, countless animals use their tails to provide various signals, both to members of their own species and to others. animals.

Rattlesnakes have dry skin scales on their tails that publish noise when they shake it. This is how snakes warn their opponents that they are preparing to bite them and it is better not to approach them.

Birds such as turkeys, birds of paradise, lyrebirds and peacocks use their tails attract females during the mating season. Because a big tail is beautiful.

Animals that live in groups or packs, e.g. wolves, use different positions tailto indicate your rank or mood in front of your fellow tribesmen.

Dogs descended from wolves too communicate with the help of their tail and wag it in different directions when excited. Hence the expression “tail between legs”, denoting cowardice - insecure dogs demonstrate their submission to their elders in this way.

Not only predators, but also herbivores give signals with this part of the body. Deer, for example, “semaphore” other members of the herd with the white lower half of their tail in order to warn them about possible danger.