Tail

2008-11-01T07:47:46Z

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The '''tail''' plays an important role in furry culture, since its absence distinguishes [[human]]s from most other [[animal]]s. It is thus an easy symbol of furryness, and many furs will wear fake tails for this reason.

==Tails on real animals==

Anatomically, the [[vertebrate]] tail is an extension of the spine. Non vertebrates can also have tails (such as the [[scorpion]]), but these are less well defined.

There exists a broad variety of tails in nature, adapted to various tasks:

* '''balancing''': for animals which are agile, such as [[cat]]s, long tails can be moved to control their balance.
* '''swimming''': the tail is in a perfect position to provide thrust, and a lot of swimming species have flat tails to take advantage of this. An exception is the [[otter]], whose tail is more like a rudder, but its power still makes it effective for swimming.
* '''gliding''': [[bird]]s have flat tails to give them more area with which to glide.
* '''air steering''': a tail can also allow flying animals to steer whilst in the air. This is why birds which hunt in forests often have long tails. Birds also open their tail-fans to brake. [[Flying squirrel]]s also use their flat tails to steer in a glide.
* '''tree-climbing''': some [[primate]]s have prehensile tails, as do [[chameleon]]s, which lets them hang onto branches with more than just their arms and legs. Some birds, such as [[woodpecker]]s, have stiffened tailfeathers which act as a brace while they are perched on the side of a tree.
* '''signaling''': the tails of [[rabbit]]s and [[deer]] are short and stubby, and can be erected to show a white underside when danger is detected, to warn others. The [[rattlesnake]] has a very unusual ability to produce an audible warning with its tail.
* '''weapons''': some tails can inflict damage on other animals. While most animals today lack this ability, it seems to have been present in animals of the past, especially the [[dinosaur]]s, who had tails with spikes and club-like ends. The scorpion is probably the best known animal with a tail weapon. [[Dragon]]s also often have tail weapons.
* '''status''': some animals such as [[wolves]] use their tails to signal status within their pack, with the [[alpha]]s holding their tails the highest.
* '''swatting pests''': the tails of [[horse]]s are used primarily to swat files and other annoying insects.

==Tails in furry fiction==

In [[stories]] and [[art]], the way a tail is held or moved can be just as much an indicator of emotion as eyes, bodily posture, or mouth position. Tails are often used to make weak warm hugs, and curling tails together (if possible) is a sure sign of intimacy between two characters. In adult-oriented settings, keeping one's tail lifted is often used to indicate accessibility and may be expected of someone in a submissive role (ironically nearly the opposite of certain real animals where the dominant one holds their tail the highest).

Care is often given to tails; as well as keeping them looking nice, they are also extensions of the spine, which means damage to them is especially painful.

==Tails in furry fandom==

Many furs have tails which they have purchased or made themselves. It is quite common to see people walking around [[convention]]s wearing the appropriate tail for their species. Most such tails are simply inanimate accessories, but a few fans have experimented with designing mechanical or animatronic tails that move realistically, either for standalone wear or as part of [[fursuit]]s.

Tails can be purchased at conventions either in the [[Dealers Room]] or [[Artists Alley]], or online from furs who make them.

== See also ==

* [[Tailhug]]
* [[Tailwave]]
* [[Gertrude McFuzz Syndrome]]

== External links ==

* [http://www.claws-and-paws.com/furry/non-fiction/uncis-tail.html Unci's Tail] - Tail building instructions.

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Tail