12 Animals With Surprisingly Long Tails

The animal kingdom never fails to amaze us with its incredible variety of shapes, sizes, and adaptations. While we might think we know all there is to know about the creatures we share our planet with, nature always has a few surprises up its sleeve. One such surprise is the extraordinary length of some animals’ tails. These elongated appendages serve various purposes, from balance and communication to defence and attracting mates. Join us as we explore twelve animals whose tails are far longer than you might expect, and prepare to be astonished by the wonders of the natural world.

Thresher Shark

The thresher shark boasts a tail that’s as long as its entire body. This impressive appendage, known as the upper lobe of the caudal fin, can make up half the shark’s total length. Thresher sharks use their extraordinary tails like whips to stun or kill their prey, making them efficient hunters in the open ocean. These remarkable creatures can grow up to 6 metres in length, with their tails measuring up to 3 metres.

Long-Tailed Pangolin

Despite its small size, the long-tailed pangolin’s tail is nearly twice the length of its body. This scaly mammal uses its prehensile tail for balance and support while climbing trees. When threatened, it can also roll into a tight ball, using its tail as an extra layer of protection. The long-tailed pangolin’s tail can reach up to 70 cm, while its body typically measures only 30-40 cm.

Spider Monkey

Spider monkeys are aptly named for their long, slender limbs, but their tails are equally impressive. Their prehensile tails can grow as long as 89 cm and are strong enough to support their entire body weight. These clever primates use their tails as a fifth limb, helping them navigate the treetops with ease. The underside of a spider monkey’s tail tip is bare, with skin grooves similar to human fingerprints, providing extra grip.

Long-Eared Jerboa

This tiny desert-dwelling rodent might look like a miniature kangaroo, but its most striking feature is its incredibly long tail. At up to 15 cm, the jerboa’s tail is often twice the length of its body. This remarkable appendage helps the animal balance as it hops across the sand on its hind legs. The long-eared jerboa can leap up to 2 metres in a single bound, thanks in part to its tail’s stabilising effect.

Ribbon-Tailed Astrapia

This bird of paradise is famous for its extraordinary tail feathers, which can grow up to three times the length of its body. Male ribbon-tailed astrapias use their impressive plumage to attract mates, creating a stunning display that’s hard to miss in the forests of New Guinea. The tail feathers can reach an astonishing length of up to 1 metre, despite the bird’s body measuring only about 32 cm.

Long-Tailed Grass Lizard

As its name suggests, this Asian reptile has a tail that’s significantly longer than its body. The grass lizard’s tail can grow up to four times the length of its body and easily breaks off if grabbed by a predator. This clever defence mechanism allows the lizard to escape while its tail continues to wiggle, distracting the attacker. The detached tail can continue moving for up to 30 minutes, giving the lizard ample time to find safety.

Giant Anteater

The giant anteater’s bushy tail is nearly as long as its body and serves multiple purposes. It acts as a blanket to keep the animal warm at night and provides balance when the anteater rears up on its hind legs to defend itself. The tail also helps camouflage this unique creature in its grassland habitat. An adult giant anteater’s tail can measure up to 90 cm, contributing significantly to its impressive total length of up to 2.1 metres.

Colobus Monkey

The striking black and white colobus monkey sports a tail that’s longer than its body. This non-prehensile tail acts as a counterbalance when the monkey leaps through the trees. Young colobus monkeys are born pure white, with their distinctive black markings and long tails developing as they mature. The colobus monkey’s tail can reach lengths of up to 85 cm, surpassing its body length of about 70 cm.

Long-Tailed Widowbird

Male long-tailed widowbirds grow extraordinarily long tail feathers during breeding season, reaching up to 50 cm in length. These elaborate tails are used to attract females and can be so long that they hinder the bird’s flight. Females, however, maintain shorter, more practical tails year-round. Interestingly, the male’s tail grows about 1 cm per day during the breeding season, reaching its full length in about seven weeks.

Asian Glass Lizard

Despite its snake-like appearance, the Asian glass lizard is actually a legless lizard with a tail that makes up about two-thirds of its total length. Like many lizards, it can shed its tail to escape predators, but unlike most, it can’t regrow the lost portion. The Asian glass lizard can grow up to 1 metre in total length, with its tail accounting for an impressive 70 cm of that measurement.

Long-Tailed Weasel

This small but feisty predator has a tail that’s almost half its total length. The long-tailed weasel’s tail helps it balance when running and climbing, and in winter, the tip turns black, providing camouflage in snowy environments. The weasel’s tail can measure up to 22 cm, while its body length typically ranges from 30-40 cm, making its tail a significant proportion of its overall size.

Cloud Rat

The cloud rat, native to the Philippines, boasts a tail that’s longer than its body. This arboreal rodent uses its long, furry tail for balance as it moves through the treetops. Despite its rat-like name, the cloud rat is actually more closely related to guinea pigs and chinchillas. The cloud rat’s tail can reach lengths of up to 40 cm, exceeding its body length of around 30 cm and aiding in its agile movements through the forest canopy.

15 Terrifying Prehistoric Creatures That Aren’t Dinosaurs

When we think of prehistoric beasts, dinosaurs often come to mind first. But the ancient world was filled with many other terrifying creatures that would give even the fiercest dinosaurs a run for their money. Let’s dive into the murky waters and dense forests of prehistory to meet some of these nightmarish animals that once roamed our planet.

Read More: 15 Terrifying Prehistoric Creatures That Aren’t Dinosaurs

Meet the Wolf Spider | One of Britain’s Biggest Spiders

Wolf spiders are a remarkable group of arachnids found across the UK and around the world. These agile hunters get their name from their wolf-like hunting style, actively chasing down prey rather than spinning webs. With their large eyes and hairy bodies, wolf spiders might look intimidating, but they’re actually quite beneficial to gardens and homes. These spiders help control pest populations and are generally harmless to humans. From their unique parenting techniques to their impressive hunting skills, wolf spiders are full of surprises.

Read More: Meet the Wolf Spider | One of Britain’s Biggest Spiders

Modern Sea Monsters | 15 Massive Marine Mammals Still Roaming Our Oceans

The oceans of our planet are home to some of the most awe-inspiring creatures on Earth. These marine mammals, with their enormous size and incredible adaptations, seem alien or prehistoric. But an actual up-close interaction with one of these incredible creatures is life-changing. Their lives and sheer size might be unfathomable, but their intelligence and magnificence is clear for all to see. From the largest animal to ever exist to deep-diving behemoths with teeth as big as your arm, these creatures are awe-inspiring and remind us why we need to do more to save our oceans before it’s too late.

Read More: Modern Sea Monsters | 15 Massive Marine Mammals Still Roaming Our Oceans

Sharing is caring!