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A howler monkey's tail weighs as much as one of
its legs. What advantage could there possibly be to lugging around all that extra weight? It is a "prehensile" tail, or one which can be used
as a fifth limb: for grasping, holding, and supporting the entire weight of the animal's body. With prehensile tails, animals can dangle
upside-down to reach thin branches, and feed high in the crowns of the tropical forest without danger of falling.
Animals with prehensile tails are found in the tropical forests of South and Central America. Photo courtesy Naomi Woods. |
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arboreal adaptation -- page 1 of 4
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[mammals] [tropical forests]
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