• Question: why do most animals have tails?

    Asked by aimeeculley to Alexandra, Dean, Jess, Luisa, Sian on 22 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Sian Foch-Gatrell

      Sian Foch-Gatrell answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      Animals that do have tails use them for one or more of the following reasons; balance, propulsion, display, grooming, grasping and steering. Humans still have remnants of tails (coccyx) which is an evolutionary remnant of when we required a tail for balance (primarily) for mobility in trees.

    • Photo: Dean Whittaker

      Dean Whittaker answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      Don’t really know. I imagine it’s a balance thing.

    • Photo: Luisa Ostertag

      Luisa Ostertag answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      To balance themselves whilst walking?
      To be able to get rid of insects flying all around them or wanting to suck their blood?
      Best guesses really, but I am not sure.

    • Photo: Alexandra Kamins

      Alexandra Kamins answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      tails are pretty useful things–they help with balance, communication (depending on what they do with it–like puff it up or wag it–it can let other members of the group know how they feel), even pest control (swatting flies).

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