Tailless

Lacking a tail; without a caudal appendage. This absence can be due to natural evolution, genetic mutation, or deliberate removal (e.g., docking). The term applies to a variety of animals, most commonly amphibians, birds, and mammals. The degree of tail absence can vary; some species are born without tails, others may have vestigial tails (small remnants), and some undergo surgical removal for practical or aesthetic reasons. This characteristic significantly influences an animal's movement, balance, and social communication in many scenarios.

Tailless meaning with examples

• The Manx cat, a breed known for its round appearance, is often tailless or possesses only a slight vestige of a tail, significantly impacting its gait. Without this appendage, the cat's rear legs give it a bouncy style of movement. This trait comes from a genetic mutation that makes this breed so unique and loved by many cat lovers worldwide.
• The frog hopped across the lily pad, its tailless form a testament to its amphibian metamorphosis. The lack of a tail, a feature prominent in its tadpole stage, was a clear indicator of the frog's completed development and its suitability to life on land, as well as the water.
• The farmer, after inspecting the sheep, remarked how one tailless ewe was easier to manage during shearing. The process of docking sheep to prevent issues with fecal matter is a common practice. Some sheep, depending on the breed, are naturally born without tails.
• A tailless swallow darted through the air, seemingly missing a critical part of its aerodynamic control during flight. With the absence of this feature, it could not turn as sharply and was vulnerable to many different predators. This avian species, a tailless example, could have been born this way or have undergone an accident.
• Scientists studying the evolutionary adaptation of primates examined fossils of early apes that were suspected to be tailless, leading to insight in human ancestry. This feature change, the loss of tails over millions of years, is an extraordinary feat for all animals.