The Paper's reporter Chen Yue
The tail refers to the protruding parts of the ends of the bodies of birds, beasts, insects, fish, etc.
Many animals have distinctive tails, but humans do not. According to the Shanghai Zoo, perhaps because of the ability to walk upright with two legs, the human body's center of gravity moves vertically up along the spine, relying on the coordination of the cerebellum to grasp the balance; and a major function of the animal tail is to maintain balance, and in the process of evolution, "develop" the functions of grasping, keeping warm and so on.
Black Turban Capuchin Monkey The pictures in this article are all WeChat public number pictures of Shanghai Zoo
The 5th "Hand"
The primates of the family Arachnidae and Capuchinidae are typical arboreals with a curly tail at the tip. When resting in the tree, the tail can firmly grasp the branches like a hand, and the hands can be freed to grab food.
Kangaroo tail
Article 5 "Legs"
Kangaroos have a stiff tail and can be used like legs. Not only does it provide thrust and power when walking, but it also provides support when resting. When kangaroos look down to graze, they use their tails and feet together to form a stable triangle, as steady as a "bench".
warm
Portable "blanket"
The tail of the red panda looks fluffy and thick. They live in the high mountain forests at higher altitudes, and when winter comes, the tail curls up on the body, which is a warm "small blanket".
Ring-tailed lemur
Information Column
Ring-tailed lemurs are social animals with long, black-and-white ringed long tails that stand out and are beautiful. They will rub the odor glands on their bodies with their tails, apply the smell to the end of the tail, and erect the tail to emit the odor, which plays a role in transmitting information.
Giraffe's "little broom"
Repel mosquitoes
Giraffes are best known for their tall, long necks, but their tails are also very long among herbivores, about 60 centimeters. The front of the tail is covered with tufts of hair, like a small broom, which can be used to repel mosquitoes in addition to maintaining balance when running on long legs. The tails of animals such as rhinos, wildebeests, and wild donkeys also have this function.
Porcupine's tail
"Little Bell"
The porcupine tail is extremely short and hides under the spines. Dozens of spines at the end of the tail evolved into hard hairs, the top was swollen, shaped like a set of "small bells", when walking, these "small bells" collided with each other, making a loud and crisp click, clicking sound, which could be heard tens of meters away, as if to warn those predators who coveted it: Don't come near me, I am not easy to mess with.
The tail of the yellow chamois
"Signal Lights"
The tail of the yellow chamois is not long, and the short, thick brown tail covers the white buttocks. When frightened, it cocks its tail to reveal its white butt, serving as a warning and confusing the enemy's sight. When the female chamois is carrying the young chamois, she will often her tail to facilitate the young to follow her. In the forest environment, the vision is not good, and the white spots are as obvious as signal lights, which play a role in visual guidance. This phenomenon is common in deer and bovine (antelope) animals.
Editor-in-Charge: Xu Xiaoyang