Can You Identify the Animal by Its Tail?

By: Olivia C
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Identify the Animal by Its Tail?
Image: shutterstock

About This Quiz

What does an animal's tail do? you might ask. 

Since these different cute, cuddly, scary, slimy or scaly creatures could have this extra body part in a small or big way, it's intriguing how they actually use such "appendages" which, obviously, works for different kinds of creatures in certain ways. 

As a creature that has some historical biological parallelism with the animal kingdom in this aspect, we could learn a thing or two about how animals function with their tails. You think that end part of your spine is just an extra bone? That's actually called a tailbone. Could you imagine if we indeed evolved that way as well? That would be such a hoot! Makes you wonder what we humans would do with a tail these days.

Now, imagine how it works for the creatures all around the world. Whether these creatures live underwater, exist on land, or manage their lives in between such surfaces, their tails could spell their survival or their death. Yep, it's that serious!

Could recognize the creatures in this quiz just by looking at their tails. Ready? Let's go!



lion
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This is the tail of the king of the jungle! What animal is it?
Mongrel
Panther
Lion
The lion has a majestic-looking tail aside from it's majestic-looking body. It's really in the design...
Quail

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alligator
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This long, swamp-living, rough-skinned creature is scary, especially its teeth and long tail! What is it?
Seal
Turkey
Parrot
Alligator
An alligator has a really long tail. It will definitely hurt if you get hit by it!

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horse
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Its tail can be as pretty as its mane, especially when racing. What animal is this?
Alligator
Snail
Horse
A horse's tail is long and has roughly the same texture as its mane.
Dove

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dog
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It's humankind's best friend! Which animal is this?
Dog
A dog's tail wags when the animal is super excited. That's the purpose of it, mostly.
Leopard
Jaguar
Possum

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elephant
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This tail belongs to an exotic animal found in Thailand, Africa, and India. What is it?
Giraffe
Aardvark
Mariposa
Elephant
The elephant's tail could also serve as a swatter for the huge animal. Whenever flies are around that back area, the tail can shoo them away.

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cow
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This provider of milk and dairy products also has a tail. What animal is it?
Butterfly
Snake
Cow
The cow's tail could also function as a fly swatter. Yes, flies like the back parts of four-legged creatures, it seems...
Cat

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rat
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Ben is one famous kind of this small creature. What is it?
Tiger
Rat
A rat has a long enough tail to help it with some tricky balancing acts. It serves as another kind of holding appendage.
Monkey
Panda

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cat
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This feline friend or fiend also has an expressive tail. What animal is this?
Donkey
Cat
A cat can also act snobbish based on how it sways its tail. Yeah, it's also catty...
Carabao
Mule

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monkey
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This simian's tail helps it maneuver its tree-swinging activities. What animal is this?
Anteater
Owl
Caterpillar
Monkey
A monkey's tail length depends on the kind of species to which it belongs. Yes, they're not all born equal.

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lizard
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This is the tail of a slimy, cold-blooded​ creature. What is it?
Gibbon
Lizard
A lizard could actually regrow its tail when it gets cut off. Don't you wish humans also had that trait, applied somewhere else...
Honey Bee
Deer

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dolphin
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This popular sea creature, featured on television and movies, also has a tail. What is it?
Dolphin
A dolphin has a tail that it uses for swimming. It's actually called a fluke.
Insect
Kakapo
Tortoise

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kangaroo
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This animal has a tail and a pouch. What is it?
Panda
Praying Mantis
Kangaroo
Kangaroos are marsupials, and they carry their young after giving birth.
Lobster

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skunk
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When it raises its tail, it might release some foul-smelling spray! What is it?
Owl
Weasel
Skunk
A skunk usually has a white-striped tail that contrasts with its dark fur. It's a popular costume, for some reason.
Cheetah

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peacock
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This huge bird has a very elaborately-designed feather system for a tail. What is it?
Grizzly
Cougar
Wild Boar
Peacock
The peacock is a huge bird indeed. But its elaborately-designed tail is also huge enough to hide behind!

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scorpion
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This scary arachnid has a poisonous tail! What is it?
Wildebeest
Scorpion
A scorpion is small. But its deadly tail can sting, as it has venom stingers!
Tortoise
Zebra

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pig
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This barn animal's tail could also be eaten, just like the rest of its fat body. What is it?
Yak
Penguin
Pig
Yes, some cultures also eat the tail of the pig. It's cultural diversity, dude!
Otter

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zebra
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This black-and-white striped animal has a long tail. What is it?
Salamander
Zebra
A zebra could also have various characteristics. It's a colorful enough animal because of its black-and-white striped appearance.
Tarsier
Eagle

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hippopotamus
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This four-legged land creature also loves wading in water. What is it?
Lemur
Stingray
Hippopotamus
A hippopotamus always has its tail in action. It swishes a lot, especially when it's in water!
Baboon

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porcupine
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This very prickly animal also has a prickly tail. What is it?
Porcupine
A porcupine indeed has a tail amidst that quill-filled body. We bet it's also as pointy!
Wolf
Tarantula
Moose

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rabbit
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This cute and furry, long-eared creature has a furry-looking tail as well. What is it?
Moth
Clam
Penguin
Rabbit
A rabbit actually displays its tail when it is running away from an enemy. Weird, huh?

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fish
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This water creature has a tail, of course, aside from fins and scales. What is it?
Insect
Crab
Hamster
Fish
A fish 's tail is a guide when it's swimming. But when cooked, it's practically useless and inedible.

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stingray
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This wide-looking water creature's tail is used as a whip in some cultures. What is it?
Goose
Jellyfish
Duck
Stingray
A stingray could use its tail as a defense mechanism. Humans also cut it and convert it into sturdy whips.

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bee
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If this flying insect attacks, it uses its tail to hurt! What is it?
Lovebird
Whale
Bee
A bee really stings with its long needle-like tail. It's pointy enough to leave a bad mark!
Siamese Cat

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coyote
Shutterstock
This animal looks like a cross between a dog and a fox. What is it?
Cuttlefish
Flamingo
Coyote
A coyote has a long tail which sometimes hangs between its two hind legs. But that happens only when it's running.
Eel

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rattlesnake
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This slinky creature has a tail that makes a noise. What is it?
Dingo
Gerbil
Oyster
Rattlesnake
The rattlesnake's tail is designed to emit a sound. Good thing, so it can announce its arrival!

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beaver
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This creature is actually from the rodent family. What's it called?
Beaver
Is it cute to name a pastry chain from the tail of a beaver? Ask the BeaverTails company in Canada!
Dormouse
Eel
Koala

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deer
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These four-legged animals are often hunted down for game. What are they?
Bulldog
Discus
Emu
Deer
A deer could have a furry-looking tail, too. And yes, it's also used as a costume detail, for some reason.

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giraffe
Shutterstock
This long-necked creature also has a tail! What is it?
Civet
Giraffe
Yes, a giraffe also has a tail. It's thin and long, but there's a bunch of furry hair at the end of it.
Barnacle
Falcon

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lemur
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This wide-eyed Madagascar primate also has a striped tail. What is it?
Catfish
Dragonfly
Lemur
A lemur is actually a primate. So it could be found tree climbing as well.
Hedgehog

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jagaur
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This really huge and fierce animal is actually a cat. What is it?
Gerbil
Ladybird
Dodo
Jaguar
The jaguar can mostly be found in North and South America. But the car kind can be found in the streets of the world...

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turtle
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This sea creature has a huge shell that it calls home. What is it?
Jackal
Lionfish
Turtle
The turtle indeed has a tail. But males have larger tails than females.
Kiwi

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shark
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This scarily-depicted sea creature frightens people at the sight of its fin alone. What is it?
Shark
Sharks have fins alright. But did you know that their tails are also considered fins?
Opposum
Mastiff
Llama

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woodpecker
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This bird's hobby includes burrowing holes in trees, hence its name. What is it?
Gerbil
Moth
Woodpecker
Woodpeckers indeed peck wood. They like to do that to trees.
Tarsier

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snail
Shutterstock
This slimy-looking small creature carries its shell of a home on its back as it crawls. What is it?
Rhinoceros
Snail
Snails indeed have tails! Research shows that it has the ability to cut off its tail to move faster when escaping a predator. Interesting finding!
Pelican
Alligator

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squirrel
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This wild creature is a common woodland and city rodent with a bushy tail. What is it?
Tasmanian Devil
Porcupine
Squirrel
The squirrel has a very long tail for a small creature. There's also a flying kind of squirrel.
Moth

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slug
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This leech-like creature indeed has a tail. What's it called?
Squid
Termite
Wombat
Slug
A slug is just small. But its back part is considered a tail.

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golden pheasant
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This Golden __ bird is also known as a Chinese ___. What's it called?
Whippet
Yak
Golden Pheasant
A Golden Pheasant is also called a Chinese Pheasant. Its tail feathers are as colorful as that country's culture...
Beetle

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turkey
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This big bird has a fan-like tail. What is it?
Manatee
Otter
Turkey
Turkeys have distinct tails because they look like hand fans! Or at least, they resemble them...
Newt

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tadpole
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Before a frog grows up, it's in this form, with a long tail. What's it called?
Sea Cow
Camel
Mongoose
Tadpole
The tadpole is characterized by its long tail. Not all tadpoles live under water, though...

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hawk
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This majestic bird of prey flies high and attacks low! What's it called?
Eagle
The eagle could have huge wingspans for flight. Its tail flaps out as well, to aid in flight.
Octopus
Guinea Pig
Axolotl

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