Prehensile tail
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[[Image:Prehensile (PSF).png|thumb|A prehensile tail.]]
A '''prehensile tail''' is the [[tail]] of an [[animal]] that has [[Adaptation (biology)|adapted]] to be able to grasp and/or hold objects. Fully [[prehensile]] tails can be used to hold and manipulate objects, and in particular to aid arboreal creatures in finding and eating food in the trees. If the tail cannot be used for this it is considered only partially prehensile - such tails are often used to anchor an animal's body to or dangle from a branch, or as an aid to climbing. The term ''prehensile'' means "able to grasp" (from the Latin ''prehendere'', the root of "comprehend" and "apprehend").
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:PNM Howler Tail.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The fully prehensile tail of a [[mantled howler]] monkey (''[[Alouatta palliata]]''). Observe the bare patch for gripping{{deletable image-caption}}]] -->
==Ecology of the prehensile tail==
One point of interest is the distribution of animals with prehensile tails. The prehensile tail is predominantly a [[New World]] adaptation, especially among mammals. Many more animals in South America have prehensile tails than in Africa and Southeast Asia. It has been argued that animals with prehensile tails predominate in [[South America]] as the forest is very dense compared to that of [[Africa]] or [[Southeast Asia]]. In contrast, in less dense forest such as in Southeast Asia it is observed that [[flying and gliding animals|gliding animals]] such as [[colugo]]s or [[flying snake]]s tend to be more common instead, whereas there are few gliding vertebrates in South America. Also South American rainforests tend to have more [[liana]]s as there are fewer large animals to eat them compared to Africa and Asia; the presence of lianas perhaps aiding climbers but obstructing gliders.<ref name="rainforest">{{cite web | url = http://www.szgdocent.org/resource/ff/f-rain1a.htm | title = Life in the Rainforest | accessdate = 2006-04-15}}</ref> Curiously, [[Australia-New Guinea]] contains many mammals with prehensile tails and also many mammals which can glide; in fact, all Australian mammalian gliders have tails that are prehensile to an extent.
==Anatomy and physiology of the prehensile tail==
Tails are mostly a feature of [[vertebrate]]s, however some [[invertebrate]]s such as [[scorpion]]s also have [[appendage]]s that can be considered tails. However, only vertebrates are known to have developed prehensile tails. Many mammals with prehensile tails will have a bare patch to aid gripping. This bare patch is known as a "friction pad."
==Animals with fully prehensile tails==
===[[Mammals]]===
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:PNM MantledHowler Christine.jpg|thumb|right|185px|[[Mantled howler monkey]] (''[[Alouatta palliata]]'') securing itself with its fully prehensile tail{{deletable image-caption}}]] -->
*[[New World Monkeys]]. Many New World monkeys in the family [[Atelidae]], which includes [[howler monkey]]s and [[spider monkey]]s, have grasping tails often with a bare [[tactile pad]]. This is in contrast with their distant [[Old World monkey]] cousins who do not have prehensile tails.
*[[Opossum]]. A [[marsupial]] group from the [[Americas]]. There is anecdotal evidence that opossums may use their prehensile tails to carry nesting material.
*[[Binturong]]. The only [[Old World]] animals with fully prehensile tails are the [[binturong]]s of [[Borneo]], though even they use only the tip of the tail.
*[[Kinkajou]]. The [[kinkajou]] of South and Central America is the only other animal of the order [[carnivora]], besides the [[binturong]], to sport the adaptation.
*[[Harvest Mouse]]. The [[Harvest Mouse]] (Micromys minutus) also has a prehensile tail. Commonly found amongst areas of tall grasses such as cereal crops (particularly wheat and oats), roadside verges, hedgerows, reedbeds, dykes and salt-marshes.
==Animals with partially prehensile tails==
===[[Mammals]]===
[[Image:Tamandua anteater Costa Rica.jpg|thumb|right|150px|A [[Southern Tamandua]] (''[[Tamandua tetradactyla]]'') making use of its prehensile tail]]
*[[New World Monkeys]]. The [[capuchin monkey]]. It is interesting to note that the capuchin is more than intelligent enough to make full use of its prehensile tail, but since the tail lacks an area of bare skin for a good grip it is only used in climbing and dangling. Other reasons for partial prehensility might include the lack of strength or flexibility in the tail, or simply having no need to manipulate objects with it.
*[[New World porcupine|Tree porcupines]]. The 15 species of tree porcupine divided between 3 genera ([[Coedou]], [[Sphiggurus]], and [[Echinoprocta]]). They are found in South America, with one species extending to Mexico. All have prehensile tails.
*[[Anteaters]]. Anteaters are found in Central and South America. Three of the four species of anteater, the [[Silky Anteater]] and the two species of [[Tamandua tetradactyla|Tamandua]], have prehensile tails
*[[Rats]] have been known to be able to wrap the tail around an object after running around it, therefore giving the creature a small bit of balance. They have also been seen to be able to briefly [[hang]] off an object, though not for long.
*[[Tree Pangolin]]. One of the few Old World mammals with a prehensile tail.
*[[Possums]]. This large, diverse group of 63 species forms the marsupial suborder [[Phalangeriformes]], found in Australia, [[New Guinea]], and some nearby islands. All members of the suborder have prehensile tails, however the tails of some members such as the [[Acrobatidae]] have only limited prehensile capacity. Notably, all three marsupial glider groups belong to this suborder.
*[[Potoroidae]]. A marsupial group found in Australia that includes the [[bettongs]] and the [[poteroos]]. They have weakly prehensile tails.
*[[Monito del Monte]]. A small South American marsupial with a prehensile tail.
===[[Reptiles]]===
[[Image:chameleon.jpg|thumb|right|185px|[[Mediterranean Chameleon]] (''[[Chamaeleo chamaeleon]]'') using its prehensile tail]]
*[[Prehensile tailed skink]]. Several kinds of [[skink]] (e.g. ''[[Corucia zebrata]]'') have partially prehensile tails.
*[[Chameleon]] lizards.
*[[Snakes]]. Many [[snake]]s have prehensile tails.
*[[Crested Geckos]]. have fully prehensile tails
*[[Urocoyledon rasmusseni]]. A gecko recently discovered in the [[Udzungwa]] mountains [http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2008/03/giant_sengis.php#more]
*[[Alligator lizard]]. Some alligator lizards such as the [[southern alligator lizard]], the [[texas alligator lizard]], and the [[arboreal alligator lizards]] (genus [[Abronia]]) have prehensile tails.
===[[Amphibians]]===
*[[Salamander]]s. A number of North American forest-dwelling [[climbing salamander]]s have prehensile tails that help them climb. Some are from of the genus [[Aneides]] such as the [[Clouded Salamander]] (''[[Aneides ferreus]]''), the [[Wandering Salamander]] (''[[Aneides vagrans]]''), and the [[Arboreal Salamander]] (''[[Aneides lugubris]]''). Others are the large [[Red Hills Salamander]] (''[[Phaeognathus hubrichti]]'') and the [[Cave Salamander]] (''[[Eurycea lucifuga]]''). There are also the Central American ''[[Bolitoglossa sombra]]'' and Mexican and Central American ''[[Bolitoglossa mexicana]]'' salamanders.
===[[Fish]]===
*[[Syngnathidae]]. Many species from this group, which includes [[Seahorse]]s and [[Pipefish]], have prehensile tails.
==In popular culture==
In the [[Pokémon]] franchise, [[Aipom]], a monkey-like Pokémon, has a greatly prehensile tail that looks like a hand. Its evolution, [[Ambipom]], has two.
The [[cyberpunk]] [[RPG]] "Neotech" made by [[Neogames]] features plenty of [[cybernetics]]. One of the implants featured is a prehensile tail.
[[Nightcrawler (comics)|Nightcrawler]], a [[Marvel Comics]] character associated with the [[X-Men]] has a fully prehensile tail, which aides him in his acrobatic feats.
==References==
<!--See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags-->
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0408.htm Canopy life]
*[http://www.szgdocent.org/resource/ff/f-rain1a.htm More on canopy life]
[[Category:Animal anatomy]]
[[pt:Preênsil]]