Tail is the extremity of the vertebral column of some animals , it forms a flexible and distinguishable appendage of the torso. They are almost exclusive to vertebrates ; and some invertebrates .
Summary
[ hide ]
- 1 General characteristics
- 2 growth phases
- 3 queue functions
- 4 Tail docking
- 5 Curiosities of the tail
- 6 Fountains
General characteristics
The tail is the rear end of an animal ‘s body .
Zoology: It is the Appendix that some animals have at the end of the trunk, bony as an extension of the vertebral column in vertebrates or in the form of a similar appearance in others.
Anatomy: It is the organ that the male of mammals presents, in an erectile way, in which the ducts of the genitourinary tract flow. In some animals it retracts into the groin, and only extends during excretion and copulation; in humans it is not retractable. It is made up mostly of spongy tissues, called corpora cavernosa, which when saturated with blood produce an erection.
growth phases
Other animals, such as salamanders, tadpoles, and fish , can regenerate their tails, which often grow at the tips.
They all turn genes into action in a process that requires stem cell control in organs such as the brain, hair follicles and blood vessels.
queue functions
Tails perform various functions in animals, they are used by fish and other forms of marine life for locomotion, some land animals use them to maintain balance and even for grip.
They can also be used for social signals, the different evolutionary pressures have led to the origination of tails with which they can attack, some of them with poison. In most birds, the tail is made up of longer feathers , whose function is to act as a “rudder” to balance and guide the animal in flight, and to help balance when perched on branches.
Some mammals such as opossums use it in many cases to transport the material with which they are going to build the nest.
tail docking
Caudectomy, docking or tail docking, is the practice of amputating the tail of an animal mainly for aesthetic purposes. It occurs in dogs, cats, pigs, sheep and goats among other animals. It is considered a practice of cruelty to animals and is prohibited in several countries (dogs only).
Tail docking occurs in one of two ways: One method is to restrict the blood supply to the tail with a rubber band for a few days until the tail falls off. Another method is to cut it off with surgical scissors, a scalpel, or burdizzo forceps. The length at which tails are docked varies by breed, and is often specified in the breed standard.
tail curiosities
Not all are the same, some fall up and others down, they have different shapes, colors and sizes, they indicate alertness, they show feelings especially pets, they maintain balance, they express their mood, they serve as a means of communication in some animals like the dog or cat.
