Name: Gloria
Status: other
Age: other
Location: OH
Country: N/A
Date: 12/13/2005
Question:
You stated that one reason animals have tails is
for balance. What about animals that have little short tails such
as rabbits? Do they use the little tail they have for balance or
for something else? Thank you for your help.
Replies:
Animals also use their tails for communication. For instance, a white-tailed
deer will lift up it's tail to show the white when they feel there is
danger. This tells the other deer to be on alert, danger might be near. Many
wild rabbits have white on the bottom of their tails also. This provides the
same protection, for as they run away from the danger this white tail is
visible to other rabbits. Some animals use their tails to make them apear
larger than they are in order to frighten predators. The peacock uses their
tail in this way, along with skunks who use their tails to look large and to
warn predators that they will spray. Some animals have prehensile tails.
This means that they can use them to grab onto things. Virgina opposums,
short-tailed opposums and many south american monkeys among others can use
their tails in this way. I hope this explains tails better!
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