Everything about The Tail totally explained
The
tail is the section at the rear end of an
animal's
body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible
appendage to the
torso. It is the part of the body that corresponds roughly to the
sacrum and
coccyx in
mammals and
birds. While tails are primarily a feature of
vertebrates, some
invertebrates—including
scorpions and
springtails—have tail-like appendages.
Function
Animal tails are used in a variety of ways. They provide a source of
locomotion for
fish and some other forms of
marine life. Many land animals use their tails to brush away
flies and other biting insects. Some species, including
cats and
kangaroos, use their tails for
balance, and some, such as New World
monkeys and
opossums, use their
prehensile tails to grasp tree branches.
Tails are also used for social signaling. Some
deer species flash the white underside of their tails to warn other nearby deer of possible danger, and
canids (including domestic
dogs) indicate
emotions through the positioning of their tails.
Evolutionary pressures have led to the development of armored tails in some species, and some, such as the tails of
scorpions contain
venom.
Some species of
lizard can
detach ("cast") their tails from their bodies. This can help them to escape from
predators, which are either distracted by the wriggling detached tail, or left with only the tail while the rest of the lizard flees. Tails cast in this manner generally grow back over time, though the replacement is typically darker in color than the original.
The tails of most birds end in long
feathers called rectrices. These feathers are used as a rudder, helping the bird to steer and maneuver in
flight; they also help the bird to balance while it's perched. In some species—such as
birds of paradise,
lyrebirds and
peacocks—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.
Human tails
Human
embryos have a tail that measures about one-sixth of the size of the embryo itself. As the embryo develops into a
fetus, the tail is absorbed by the growing body. The developmental tail is thus a
human vestigial structure. Infrequently, a child is born with a "soft tail", which contains no vertebrae, but only blood vessels, muscles, and nerves, although there have been a very few documented cases of tails containing cartilage or up to five vertebrae. Modern procedures allow doctors to eliminate the tail at delivery. The longest human tail on record belonged to a twelve-year-old boy living in what was then
French Indochina, which measured 229 mm (9 inches). A man named
Chandre Oram, who was born in India, is famous because of his tail. Nonetheless, it isn't believed to be a true tail but a case of
spina bifida. Sara Herandi, a female, was another similar case but to a smaller extent (approximately 5-inches), her case was more abnormal as her tail contained hair that resembled that of a squirrel's tail.
Humans have a
tail bone (the
coccyx) attached to the pelvis, in the same place which other mammals have tails. The tail bone is formed of fused
vertebrae, usually four, at the bottom of the
vertebral column. It doesn't protrude externally, but retains an anatomical purpose: providing an attachment for muscles like the
gluteus maximus.
Further Information
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