What's the purpose of tails in animals?

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  1. WebbyAvatar profile image59
    WebbyAvatarposted 14 years ago

    Any idea?

    1. AEvans profile image75
      AEvansposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I have never thought about the purpose in animals but on animals it is for balance just like whiskers on a cat.smile

  2. profile image0
    cosetteposted 14 years ago

    big_smile

    great question! i never thought about it actually.

    hmm...

    i know some critters like monkeys use them to grab onto tree branches and whatnot.

  3. profile image0
    Poppa Bluesposted 14 years ago

    They are for balance.

    1. WebbyAvatar profile image59
      WebbyAvatarposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      And, some animals really have short tail.

      1. profile image0
        Poppa Bluesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Yes it's a counter balance. If you think about it, it's no different than the way we use are arms and legs while playing sports.

    2. pddm67 profile image59
      pddm67posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That's what I've heard too smile

  4. profile image0
    cosetteposted 14 years ago

    i have heard of elephants holding tails when they are walking, or is that just in cartoons?

    1. profile image0
      Poppa Bluesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      They're quite smart and can be trained to do many things. That behaviour is typical in circus elephants while they are being marched to the site.

      1. profile image0
        cosetteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        oh. that's where i've seen that.

        rattlesnakes use their tails as a warning that they are about to strike.

        and like cats, bunnies use their whiskers to measure the size of a space they want to squeeze into. the only purpose i can see for their little cottontails is just to be cute smile

  5. kmackey32 profile image54
    kmackey32posted 14 years ago

    To cover there butt whole. lol ha

    1. atil profile image61
      atilposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Whiskers are for balance, tails? This is the correct answer!

      1. kmackey32 profile image54
        kmackey32posted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Everytime I try to be funny I am right. lol

  6. kkavya profile image59
    kkavyaposted 14 years ago

    I saw i TV that " hippopotomos" gave warning to other hippos thats its his territory and he just spread his " pee" in all corners using his tail.

  7. profile image0
    Poppa Bluesposted 14 years ago

    OKay I was omly partly right but here is a better explanation:

    http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-pur … nimals.htm

    1. WebbyAvatar profile image59
      WebbyAvatarposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That explains much smile

  8. profile image0
    Poppa Bluesposted 14 years ago

    What is doesn't explain is why guys are always chasing tail! wink

  9. kmackey32 profile image54
    kmackey32posted 14 years ago

    The real answer is while some animals use there tails for balance, not all do. Some animals have tails so they can use them to hang from trees serving as an extra hand. Cows, zebras, an Elephans have tails to swat at annoying flys. Fish have tails for swimming. A lizard has a tail for defense.

    1. profile image0
      Poppa Bluesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That doesn't answer my question! big_smile

  10. Lady Guinevere profile image66
    Lady Guinevereposted 14 years ago

    Cat Whiskers are for knowing how small an area they can get into.

    1. AEvans profile image75
      AEvansposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the info a friend of mine told me it was to keep balance and direction I didn't know that it was also for them to figure out how to fit into a small space, she also owns a cat. smile

  11. Rochelle Frank profile image94
    Rochelle Frankposted 14 years ago

    Horses use them to swat flies.
    Dogs use them to signal happiness, excitement and anticipation.
    Some deer have black and white tails which make a good, visible signal for their youngsters to follow when they run.

  12. habee profile image93
    habeeposted 14 years ago

    Some dogs, especially swimming breeds like the Portuguese Water Dog, use their tails as rudders when swimming.

  13. blondepoet profile image70
    blondepoetposted 14 years ago

    To keep their bottoms from hitting the ground.

    1. prettydarkhorse profile image64
      prettydarkhorseposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      LOL, so that they become sexy when they walk, and their butt swing too with a nice sway...

      1. blondepoet profile image70
        blondepoetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

        Haha that's right.

  14. profile image0
    ralwusposted 14 years ago

    Fly swatters! They don't wipe and dogs need them to wag as they smile.

 
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