What's the use of a squirrel's tail?

Squirrels are a family of mammalian rodents, characterized by long furry tails, and animals closely related to other animals are called squirrel-shaped suborders. They are generally small and herbivorous, and eat mainly seeds and nuts. Some species feed on insects and vegetables. Let's take a look at the role of squirrel tails.

How long is the tail of a squirrel?

Squirrels usually have a body length of 20 cm and a tail length of 15 cm. In view of the above data, it is no wonder that many people think that the main feature of a squirrel is to have a big furry tail! However, some squirrels have tails almost twice the length of their bodies!

What's the use of a squirrel tail?

1. Help jump: squirrels often jump up and down trees, and this big tail can increase the jumping distance of squirrels. When a squirrel jumps from one tree to another, it keeps its tail straight and can jump more than ten meters away. with this ability, when a squirrel meets a fierce animal, it can run away quickly. In addition, when the squirrel's tail is folded up, like a broom, it can sweep the floor!

2. Landing safely: when a squirrel jumps down from a tree, its tail opens. At this time, the big tail, like a parachute, can be used to maintain the balance of the body so that the squirrel can fall to the ground safely. When it falls to the ground, the big tail is fluffy, thick and soft, acting as a sponge pad

3. Hanging branches upside down: squirrels with their tails raised, like small sails, can help them swim and adapt to life on trees, because they can hang upside down from branches with their tails.

4. Keep warm from the cold: when a squirrel sleeps, he will cover his tail as a quilt and cover his head and body like a quilt to keep warm, especially in the cold winter.

5. Communication tools: recently, scientists have found that squirrels use the change of their wagging tail as their "language" to communicate with each other. When working together against snakes, American squirrels use their tails to convey messages. Three swings of the tail indicate the beginning of the general attack, two swings indicate the continuation of the attack, and a swing means to stop the attack. In addition, they use the different swinging states of their tails to indicate the type, size, distance and direction of movement of the snakes that threaten their survival.

The reason for the loss of hair on the tail of a squirrel

1. Seasonal hair loss: most animals exfoliate and change their hair in spring and autumn.

2. Diseases or parasites: if the tail of a squirrel suffers from diseases such as folliculitis or eczema, or if there are a large number of mites or fleas, it will also cause a large number of depilation.

3. Man-made causes: for convenience, many families directly use human soap or shampoo and even bathe squirrels with washing powder and detergent. However, because the skin of most animals tends to be medium-sized, and the washing products used by humans are relatively alkaline relative to their skin, causing dry and itchy skin, allowing mites, bacteria and fungi to take advantage of, resulting in skin diseases that eventually lead to hair loss.

4. Lack of nutrition: lack of vitamins and minerals in the body can also cause the tail of squirrels to lose hair.

5. Light and temperature: the natural environment such as sunlight and temperature will also affect the growth of wool. If there is no sunlight for a long time and kept indoors all the year round, it will also cause slight hair removal throughout the year.

What's the use of an animal's tail?

1. When the fish swims in the water, the fish's tail can grasp the direction.

2. The gecko's tail is thin and long, and the gecko can use it to defend itself. When other animals want to catch geckos, they often think that they can catch geckos by grabbing or holding their tails. In fact, geckos can cut off their tails and escape immediately, making the animals that want to catch them happy. After the gecko takes off its original tail, it can soon grow a new tail.

3. The tail of swallows, sparrows, crows and other birds can balance the body, adjust speed, change direction, and control the rise and fall when flying, so it is called the "omnipotent rudder". The tail of a woodpecker is a little special. It is so hard and powerful that it can support the woodpecker to stop on the trunk and feed, and it can also help the woodpecker maintain its balance as it climbs the trunk. At the same time, when the woodpecker is flying, it can also play the role of a bird's tail.

4. The tail of a mule and horse, made up of long coarse hair, can be swung from side to side. It can drive away mosquitoes, gadflies and flies that fall on mules and horses.

5. The squirrel's tail is fluffy, big and long. When a squirrel jumps down from a height, it can slow down the landing speed, make the squirrel land safely and act as a parachute. When a squirrel sleeps, he can cover his tail as a quilt or snuggle up to his side to keep warm.

6. Anteaters living in Central and South America put up their tails as umbrellas when it rains or hot sun, and spread their tails on the ground as blankets when they sleep at night.

7. The tail of a tiger, like a steel whip, can be beaten. When a tiger fights with other animals, its tail becomes a powerful fighting weapon. Beat the enemy out of his head and could not fight back.

8. The tail of an African crocodile is a powerful predator. In general, African crocodiles lie quietly by the river, motionless. Once the prey is close to it, it leaps to its feet, wiggles its tail, sweeps it into the water, and then pounces on it and bites it.

9. The tail of a bee is a weapon to sting the enemy. The tail of a bee is used to attack, but it can only be used once, because the needle is connected to the intestines, so it is only used in the most urgent time.

10. The monkey's tail is its "fifth hand". It climbs and hangs against its tail, uses its tail to run around the tree, and sometimes grabs food with its tail, which can also regulate its body temperature.

The deer's tail is small and short, but it is an important alarm. When the danger comes close to the herd, it is first found that the enemy deer will put up their tails, reveal the bright spots below, and warn their companions. The deer will flee as soon as they receive the alarm.

It is often said that a rabbit's tail cannot grow. In fact, a rabbit's short tail can help a rabbit escape in an emergency. When the rabbit is bitten by a beast, the rabbit immediately uses a "peeling meter" to take off the "holster" of its tail, thus winning the moment of escape.

The platypus's tail is furry, thick and strong, and has a lot of fat in it. When winter comes, a thick tail full of fat can help protect it from the cold and provide the necessary nutrients.

14. The horse running on the prairie is full of arrogance with its tail flowing back. The horse's tail acts as a good balance when running. At ordinary times, the horse regards its tail as a "fly swatter". The tails of mosquitoes, gadflies and ropes that attack it are good helpers to help it crawl along the wall from here to there. The house mouse can even use its tail to hook out the syrup or cream in the bottle and then take back its tail to taste these delicacies.

15. The house mouse can even use its tail to hook out the syrup or cream in the bottle, and then take back its tail to taste these delicacies.

16. The tail of a crocodile is a tool for hunting. The crocodile's tail is very powerful, as strong as an iron stick, and can be used as a weapon to defend and attack, and ordinary wild animals such as lions and leopards cannot withstand its blow.

The tail of a lizard can store energy. The scorpion's tail is to defend against the enemy's attack or the scorpion's tail is used to attack the enemy, when encountered by the enemy, hold high the tail thorn, in self-defense. Can be used for predation, when catching small animals, with tail thorns to poison small animals, the general small animals are dead.

18. The tail of a cheetah lion is to keep balance when running. (the cheetah lion balances with its tail.) the cat's tail is used for balance, and it is the best tool to help the cat walk: the balancer. It can also be used for fishing.

19. The cat's tail enables the cat to keep balance when running and jumping, and it can also turn over when it is belly upside down, four feet up, and fall down, so that it will not fall.

20. A rooster's tail helps him keep his balance, and it is also for the convenience of courtship, just like his crown.

21. The tail of a duck helps them keep their balance. Its tail can secrete a lot of oil. It smears oil on the thick and light feathers through its mouth, so that the feathers will not be wet by water, and there is always air in it. So it can float on the water.

22. The tail of a sheep is like a grain depot, fat and big, full of fatty oil.

23. The peacock's tail can show its beauty and attract the opposite sex, sometimes it can warn and intimidate predators, and the male peacock's tail can attract attention.

24. The snake's tail controls the direction of movement, like the rudder of a ship! Some snakes' tails are used for warning, like rattlesnakes, and some can be used as bait to trap other animals. for example, rattlesnakes' tails are used to attract prey, and small animals become its meal. The rattlesnake's tail crackled, frightening the enemy to flee. (rattlesnake's tail-alarm)

25. When a dragonfly flies over the water and clicks its tail into the water, it is laying eggs.

26. Poison gas is emitted from the tail of cat-eating mice.

27. The giraffe's tail is used to convey messages.

28. When the beaver in the water is in danger, it will pat the water with its tail, make a "crackling" sound and call the police to its companions.

29. The tail of the pangolin acts as a security guard, and the tail of the pangolin is wrapped around the tree like a safety belt.

30. The sea otter's tail is an alarm. When the enemy approaches it, it will run away immediately.

31. Foxes and other animals with furry thick tails will huddle their bodies together when they are cold, and then wrap their big tails around their bodies as if they were wrapped in a big hairy scarf. No matter how cold the weather is, they will not be cold. The fox's tail balances its body as it moves.

32. The most useless thing is to count pig tails, which are short and small and can only be used as knickknacks.

33. The dog's tail can express his feelings of joy, anger and sadness: when he sees his owner coming, he can stand up and keep swinging to express his happiness. when he is beaten, the dog's tail will clip up and run away, showing panic. When the dog sees a stranger, it droops its tail to express anger and protest.