What Animal Has No Tail? 25 Animals To See [ 2022 Updated ]

There are numerous animals worldwide, each with unique physical features that separate them from the other. Among such physical features is the tail. The tail is one of the most primitive physical features and is a very prominent one.

When we refer to an animal’s “tail,” we are referring to the slender and bendable appendage that, in certain species, may extend beyond the rearmost part of the animal’s body. All vertebrate animals, including birds, reptiles, and mammals, have tails that develop from the spinal column (the backbone).

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about the many different types of animals that don’t have tails.

Below, for the sake of your improved comprehension, you will find an in-depth discussion of everything relevant to your knowledge of these creatures. Keep reading if you’re interested in learning more about these 26 animals missing their tails.

What Animal Has No Tail

Tails have a variety of important tasks, and as a result, they are essential structural components. As is the case with the larvae of certain fish and amphibians, crocodiles, otters, whales, and other types of marine mammals, in addition to other types of aquatic vertebrates.

The tail functions as a fulcrum when climbing, much like a squirrel’s tail. The tail vertebrae of birds become fused to facilitate the attachment of feathers to the bodies of the birds. These feathers are linked to the bodies of the birds via the tail vertebrae.

As for beavers and rattlesnakes, a deterrent and warning mechanism is used. As in geckos and crocodiles, fat storage and spider monkeys are an example of prehension.

A dog or cat’s tail is essential to expressing diverse behaviors and conveying various messages. When it comes to attracting a partner, males, even peacocks, show off their tails.

Strike at the foe: As in the case of scorpions. Cattle swatting flies and other pests with their tails is a kind of pest management. Hippos’ famed use of tail propulsion to spread dung is an example of territory marking. In the world of animal diplomacy, the tails play a crucial function.

So, let us look at some animals with no tail and distinct features.

Here Are 25 Animals Who Have No Tail:

1. American Black Bear

The most frequent kind of bear in North America is the American black bear, the smallest of the three species of bears that may be found in this region. Adults typically range in weight from 160 to 600 pounds, reach a length of around five feet from head to rump, and stand approximately three feet tall at the shoulders.

The hue of a black bear’s short fur may vary from a light brown to a practically black tint, depending on the animal’s subspecies and region.

One of the most distinguishing aspects of black bears is the length of their claws, which may reach nearly two inches in length and are fashioned like a sickle.

One of the most well-known and widely distributed bear species in North America is the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus), also known as the black bear.

In terms of size and distribution, it is the continent’s smallest and most common bear species. These are one of the most prominent tailless animals.

Regarding their nutrition, American black bears may vary substantially depending on the season and where they live.

They like to dwell in densely wooded locations, although they will go out into human settlements in quest of food, especially if it is readily available. Subspecies may be dark or blonde, despite their name.

2. Araucana Chickens

The Gallina Mapuche is a Chilean breed of chicken. The Araucana area of Chile is credited with giving it its name. It is one of the rare breeds that produce blue-shelled eggs and is a breed of chicken with no tail.

Some countries have stricter Araucana breed criteria than others. It is often called the South American Rumpless because of its lack of a tail and tail bone and the peculiar tufts of feathers on its ears.

These chickens are distinguished by the absence of tails and the tough shells of their eggs. They have their roots in Chile, but nowadays, you can find them throughout the United States.

3. Barbary Macaque

Known as Barbary ape or maggot, the Barbary macaque is a macaque species endemic to the Atlas Mountains of Algeria and Morocco and a tiny population imported to Gibraltar in the 1970s.

They are a rare breed of apes who surprisingly lack a tail. The Barbary macaque is a little monkey with reddish-brown fur, which allows it to be distinguished from other species of the genus Macaca with relative ease.

It has a black coloration on its cheeks and ears. Plants and insects are the Barbary macaque’s primary food sources, which are found in various environments.

To be precise, men often reach the age of 25, while females may survive to 30. They are the only primates in Europe that are not caged.

The Barbary macaque, despite its widespread name of “Barbary ape,” is a monkey species, and its name is derived from the Barbary Coast in northwest Africa.

4. Bonobos

The ape species of Bonobos are highly endangered. It was originally thought that bonobos were a subspecies of the chimpanzee because of their likeness to their relatives in the genus (Pan troglodytes). The bonobo has long legs, pink lips, a dark face, tailless anatomy, and parted long hair on its head that is separated into two halves.

The bonobo is the giant ape most closely related to humans of all living species. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is where you may find them.

Bonobos are exceptionally gregarious creatures living in large groups that may include up to fifty others. They are notorious for their deviance and often turn to sexual activity as a dispute resolution. Bonobos have no tail.

5. Capybara

South American capybaras are a species of rodent that can be found only on that continent. They are the heaviest rodents on the planet and may weigh up to 68 kilograms when fully grown.

Capybaras are distinguished by their lack of a tail and short, brown fur. They spend most of their time in the water, where they feed on the plants found in the water. Because humans kill them for their flesh and fur, capybaras are considered a species in danger of extinction.

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris is the scientific name for the huge South American capybara. It belongs to the Hydrochoerus genus and is the biggest extant rodent.

The smaller capybara is the only other surviving member (Hydrochoerus isthmus). The agouti is a near cousin of guinea pigs and rock cavies; chinchillas, the nutria, and the nutria are all distant relatives.

The capybara lives in savannas, deep woodlands, and near water sources and is known for its ability to swim. There are enormous groups of up to 100 animals, although they are most often seen in smaller groups of 10–20 individuals.

As well as for its flesh and hide, the capybara is also hunted for its thick fatty skin, which provides an abundance of grease. As far as we know, it’s not an endangered species.

6. Centipedes

The predatory arthropods known as centipedes belong to the class Chilopoda of the subphylum Myriapoda. Millipedes and other multi-legged animals are also members of this arthropod subphylum, including centipedes.

The body segments of centipedes are segmented throughout their length, each with one set of legs. The centipedes lack a tail and are one of the more well-known tailless animals.

7. Chimpanzees

It’s a giant ape endemic to the forests and plains of tropical Africa known as a chimpanzee. This animal has four known subspecies, and a fifth has been suggested. The bonobo and the chimpanzee are both members of the Pan genus. Chimpanzees are also a tailless species and are quite commonly seen.

8. Crabs

In the Brachyura infraorder, crabs are decapod crustaceans with a small “tail” normally buried behind the thorax. They can be found in all of the world’s seas, in fresh water, and on land, are coated in a thick exoskeleton, and have just one set of pincers on each arm. The tail in their anatomy is not a tail and an extension of their body.

Crabs lack a scaly apex on their bodies. Although related to shrimp and lobster, these water critters can only reach a maximum length of half a foot when fully grown.

Crabbing is a circular motion rather than a linear one. Crabs move by sliding their legs forward on their tips while simultaneously pushing the rest of their bodies along with one front leg in the same direction.

Male crabs that battle for a female’s attention utilize their front claws, which are exceptionally well-developed, to grasp onto passing food or victims. They use their rear legs and a claw to simulate a sword when they battle.

9. Frogs

The order Anura includes a wide range of short-bodied, tailless amphibians with carnivorous diets collectively referred to as “frogs”. Frogs’ lengthy, slippery tails are an adaptation that assists them in swimming.

While some frogs will eventually shed their tails as they get older, others may never even develop one in the first place.

These creatures are very commonly spotted and lack a tail. Even though during infancy as tadpoles, they do have a tail, as they mature, they lose their tail and become tailless creatures.

10. Gibbons

Gibbons belong to the Hylobatidae family of apes. The family had just one genus in the past, but it has since been divided into four living genera and 20 distinct species.

Throughout Bangladesh, India, and China, gibbons may be found in subtropical and tropical rainforests. These ape species are also tailless like many of their kind and have a distinct physical appearance.

The Southeast Asian region is the typical habitat for these animals.

Their extended arms and legs, which they use to leap from tree to tree and socialize with other gibbons, are distinctive features that allow people to identify them. Gibbons live alone or in small clusters, including a male, many females, and their young.

11. Gorillas

Great apes, the gorillas of equatorial Africa, are mostly herbivorous and live mainly on the ground. Eastern and Western gorillas, as well as four or five subspecies, make up the genus Gorilla. These particular species of ape, like many others of its genus, lack a distinguishing tail, and a unique shape characterizes their bodies.

The Gorilla is the biggest member of the ape family that is still alive today. They have a close kinship with humans, as shown by the fact that their DNA is 98 percent identical to ours.

Gorillas are only found in Africa, distributed over various ecosystems, ranging from humid forests to arid woods. Gorillas come in two different varieties: the mountain gorilla and the lowland gorilla.

12. Guinea Pigs

The guinea pig, also known as the cavy or the domestic cavy, is a rodent species belonging to the genus Cavia in the family Caviidae. It is a well-known rodent often kept as a pet by many people worldwide.

These animals lack a tail and are of a small size. Guinea pigs are wonderful pets known for their outgoing and social nature. They may be brown, black, white, or spotted and come in various color patterns, including brown, black, and white.

13. Hyrax

The hyrax is a tiny animal with four legs and an appearance similar to that of a hedgehog. It inhabits the regions of Africa and the Middle East and does not have a tail.

Herbivorous in nature, hyraxes consume plant matter from leaves, fruit, flowers, and even bark. They dwell in colonies that may include up to one hundred individuals. Hyraxes are highly sociable creatures that use various vocalizations to communicate with one another and other group members.

14. Jellyfish

The medusa phase of some gelatinous species of the subphylum Medusozoa, a key component of Cnidaria, is often referred to as jellyfish or sea jellies. These are informal common names.

Jellyfish are the most basic form of life that can be found in the water. They lack a strong backbone, a beating heart, and a functioning brain. They lack a tail but instead have tentacles that they use to capture prey to eat.

15. Kiwi

New Zealand is home to many flightless birds belonging to the family Apterygidae and the genus Apteryx. Kiwis are by far the tiniest ratites, with their average size comparable to that of a domestic chicken.

The kiwi is a bird native to New Zealand that does not possess the ability to fly. This bird is one of a kind among other species because it lacks tail feathers.

The kiwi can go around with the assistance of its wings, and its powerful legs enable it to sprint quite swiftly. Kiwis may have a brown or black appearance, and their large beaks, which are employed for eating insects and other tiny creatures, set them out visually.

16. Koalas

Koalas are arboreal herbivorous marsupials that are endemic to Australia. They are often incorrectly referred to as koala bears. The sole member of the family Phascolarctidae has survived to the current day, and the wombats are its closest surviving relatives.

The koala is one of the rare species of animal that does not have a tail. They climb trees with the help of their powerful arms, which they use to grab onto branches.

Koalas get most of their nutrition from eucalyptus leaves, which are quite energizing. They may also be found in some regions of New Guinea and Australia.

17. Manx cat

A breed of cat known as the Manx Cat does not have a tail. This is because the cats have a genetic abnormality that prevents them from developing a tail, which leads to the condition described above.

It is generally agreed upon that the Manx Cat is a natural breed, which denotes that it is not descended from any particular line of cats. Instead, it is thought that the Manx Cat evolved on the island of Man, which is part of the group of islands known as the British Isles.

18. Millipedes

Millipedes are a kind of arthropods that belong to the category of arthropods that do not have tails. They are referred to as “thousand-leggers” due to the large number of species that comprise this group and their ability to grow to lengths of up to 14 inches (35 cm).

Centipedes are generally long and thin creatures that may be identified from millipedes by the difference in the number of their legs.

Millipedes have fewer legs than centipedes (one pair per body segment in centipedes, two pairs per body segment in millipedes). Several tropical animals have comparatively huge heads.

19. Octopus

Octopuses are soft-bodied molluscs that belong to the order Octopoda and have eight legs each. There are around 300 different species that make up this order, which belongs to the class Cephalopoda, along with squids, cuttlefish, and nautiloids.

Octopuses are unique in that they lack a tail. Instead of legs, they have eight long, extensible appendages that they use to move and grab prey.

These arms may also be used for defense since the octopus can wrap them around an adversary and keep them away using this tactic. Because it does not have a tail, the octopus can move incredibly quickly through the water.

20. Orangutans

The jungles of Indonesia and Malaysia are the natural habitat of the big apes known as orangutans. At this time, they were only present in some regions of Borneo and Sumatra, but during the Pleistocene, they roamed over the whole of Southeast Asia and South China.

All orangutans were thought to belong to the same species and were grouped under the genus Pongo. Orangutans are the biggest arboreal mammals that may be found anywhere on the globe.

They inhabit the tropical woods of Borneo and Sumatra, where they may be found. The males of this species may weigh up to 200 pounds and have long, reddish-brown hair. The only other member of the Great Ape family to lack a tail is an orangutan.

21. Siamangs

Gibbons come in a few different varieties, but the siamang is the biggest of the gibbon species. Southeast Asia is their home; fruits and insects make up most of their diet.

The Siamang gibbon is unique among other gibbons in that it lacks a tail. Because their tails are absorbed into their bodies when they are still embryos, this is why they do not have tails.

The brains of siamangs have even been likened to those of humans, leading some researchers to assume that these primates are among the most intellectual that can be found anywhere in the world.

22. Spiders

Spiders are arthropods that breathe air and have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs that are typically capable of injecting venom, and spinnerets that produce silk.

They make up the bulk of the spider kingdom and are ranked seventh among all orders of creatures regarding the number of species they include.

Spiders are one example of an animal group that does not have a tail. They can capture their prey using webs spun by their eight legs.

Spiders may inspire fear in some people, but their ability to reduce the number of pesky insects like mosquitoes makes them valuable members of the ecosystem.

23. Starfish

Starfish do not have any arms or legs. But instead, they have five “arms” extending from the disc located in the middle of their bodies. Another group of creatures that do not have tails is sea urchins.

This is because sea urchins lack structures analogous to limbs and/or digits, such as those seen in many other animals and humans (think arms and legs).

24. Toads

Toad is a popular term for several different species of frogs, particularly those belonging to the family Bufonidae. These toad-like frogs have dry, leathery skin, short legs, and big bumps covering their parotoid glands.

Toads are frequent in outdoor spaces like parks and gardens, but despite their endearing appearance, they pose a significant threat to people.

Because toads lack tails, they cannot use them as a form of self-defense when a predator threatens them. Because of this, toads depend on the poisonous skin secretions they produce to ward off potential predators.

25. Tiliqua Rugosa

Tiliqua rugosa, more normally recognized as the shingleback lizard or bobtail lizard, is an endemic species of blue-tongued skink (genus Tiliqua) that can only be found in Australia.

It has a short tail and moves very slowly. It is also sometimes called the drowsy lizard or the shingle-back lizard. The term “bobtail” is most often used for individuals found in Western Australia, which is home to three of the four recognized subspecies of this animal.

Tiliqua rugosa is a species of blue-tongued skink that does not have a tail, even though most reptiles have tails. They can throw off their would-be predators because of their incredibly short and thick tail, which is shaped similarly to their head.

Conclusion

These are the 26 animals that do not have a tail and are among the creatures that are found the most often everywhere around the globe.

Their distinct physical characteristics do not always work against them but rather provide them with various advantages over other creatures around the planet. You should know all there is to know about these creatures since it has been laid out for you above.