There are a variety of animals without tails, including some mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Interestingly, many of these animals have lost their tails due to evolutionary adaptations.
Today, we’ll look at various creatures that don’t have tails.
18 Animals Without Tails
Let’s take a look at those who lost their tails for reasons or simply didn’t have them.
- Barbary Macaques
The tail of these herbivorous monkeys is the only primate species to have one, although it is referred to as a vestigial tail. It implies that when Barbary macaques mature, their tails are lost since they no longer need them.
- Hyrax
They don’t have tails and don’t need them, unlike hyenas. Hyrax is native to Africa and southwestern Asia.
Hyraxes are small herbivores with thick fur. They typically weigh between two and five pounds and measure between 30 and 70 centimeters in length.
- Apes
A number of chimpanzee fossils discovered by scientists indicated that apes had tails a long time ago. But their tails vanished four million years ago. The transition occurred before the emergence of modern humans.
- Manx Cat
The Manx cat’s tail is small and cannot be seen. While others do not have tails. A genetic change occurred a hundred years ago that resulted in numerous Manx cats having no tails.
- Millipedes
The millipede’s name is derived from the Latin word mille meaning “thousand” and refers to the thousand feet. Millipedes, on the other hand, do not have tails; they are members of arthropods with two pairs of jointed legs that are well-known for their long bodies.
- Centipedes
Centipedes don’t have tails and may be found throughout the world. Centipedes are arthropods that belong to the Chilopoda class of the Myriapoda subphylum. The size of centipedes ranges from a few millimeters to approximately 30 cm.
- Capybara
Their size is comparable to that of a dog and they don’t have tails. They resemble guinea pigs almost completely.
- Kiwi Birds
Kiwi birds lack tails and are a type of avian that is unable to fly. Despite the fact that they have wings, they are unable to take flight.
- Spiders
There are numerous species of spiders, and none of them have tails. Some relatives of spiders, known as vinegaroons.
Spiders are arthropods that breathe air and have eight legs as well as fangs to inject or discharge venom in order to defend themselves against predators or capture food.
- Frogs
Anura is the scientific name for frogs, which comes from Ancient Greek and means “without a tail.” Anuran is the name given to frogs and other short-bodied creatures lacking a tail.
- American black bear
Black bears have thin tails that are easy to overlook. In fact, bear newborns sometimes have hidden tails. They do not need tails because they are not quick-moving runners who require frequent turns.
- Amblypygi
Amblypygi (amblypygids) or tailless whip scorpions are a kind of ancient arthropod with no tails. Whip spiders are another name for them. Amblypygi lacks tails, unlike other scorpions. This species may be found in both temperate and tropical climates all around the world.
- Sea Urchins
The tail of a sea urchin is unnecessary, hence, they don’t have one. They walk using their feet and even their teeth, which allows them to move quickly. As a result, they are able to capture their prey easily and flee from predators in a hurry.
- Octopus
Another fascinating aspect about octopuses is the number of their hearts. Octopuses are aquatic animals with three hearts, blue blood and have no tails.
- Jellyfish
Jellyfish do not have a brain, heart, bones, or eyes. These tailless creatures are called sea jellies and resemble an umbrella. The jellyfish’s mouth is in the center of its body.
- Corals
Corals look like plants and don’t have tails. Corals come in a variety of hues, sizes, and forms. They are animals that are affiliated with jellyfish and anemones.
- Starfish
Starfish, unlike other species, have no brains or blood and lack tails. They have the ability to regrow their bodies.
Sea stars are immune to accidents and only die as a result of aging. They can live up to 35 years old, nevertheless.
18. Barnacles
Barnacles do not have tails and can be mistaken for a static creature. Barnacles are an arthropod family. They are closely related to crabs and lobsters.
Barnacles prefer to dwell in shallow as well as tidal seas. On rocky coastlines, they may occasionally be observed drifting about.