What is it called when an animal can use its tail to hang from a tree branch, and what animals have this ability?

Question

What is it called when an animal can use its tail to hang from a tree branch, and what animals have this ability?

Question #58271. Asked by barker111.
Last updated Jan 12 2017.

lanfranco
Answer has 4 votes

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lanfranco
20 year member
4170 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.

Such a tail is called "prehensile" and is specially adapted for grasping, wrapping, and hanging. These tails can be found on some primates (and some rodents, I think), and on the opossum seen here:

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/opossum.htm

Jul 11 2005, 3:06 PM

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Answer 1

TheAlphaWolf
Answer has 4 votes

TheAlphaWolf

Answer has 4 votes.

Snakes, chameleons, and others also have prehensile tails.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehensile_tail

Response last updated by gtho4 on Jan 12 2017.
Jul 12 2005, 9:33 AM

Answer 2

Elephants also have prehensile trunks for drinking, bathing, and grabbing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant#Trunk

prehensile -- Adapted for seizing, grasping, or holding, especially by wrapping around an object. The feet of many birds, the tails of monkeys, and the trunks of elephants are prehensile.

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/prehensile