History Main / RetractableAppendages

[[caption-width-right:350:Experiment 626 changing from alien to [[ClarkKenting "dog"]] in just seconds.]]

* Minor example in ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World'' when George [[VoluntaryShapeshifting becomes a nixie]] for a while. Paul notices that he doesn't have any genitalia in that form, and George deadpans, “It retracts. If I leave it out it attracts fish. It's useful to bring dinner over. Would you like to see it in action?” Paul can't tell if George is serious or not.

* Sephiroth from ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts'' has a retractable black wing. Implied in the ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' series that his black wing is the same as in Kingdom Hearts.

* {{Kaiju}} movies starring Franchise/{{Gamera}}, the flying turtle. Gamera can retract all four of his legs into his shell, then cause fire to spray out of the holes, allowing him to spin around and fly. He can retract his head into his shell the same way, and often does so while flying.

* Algol from ''[[VideoGame/SoulCalibur Soul Calibur IV]]'' has [[NightmareFuel 3 on each side retractable kraken like clawed fingeresque tentacles that detract from his chest.]]

* Franchise/TheFutureIsWild has the Flish with a retractable second mouth.

* Neiz from the DragonBall movie Cooler's Revenge who has the ability to retract his head into his body like that of a turtle.

[[folder:Film]]
* ''[[Film/InspectorGadget Inspector Gadget 2]]'' has this happen to Gadget when he ducks a punch in the face at a bar.

* In Film/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy, Zaphod retracts one of his heads into his chest from time to time.
* {{Kaiju}} movies starring Franchise/{{Gamera}}, the flying turtle. Gamera can retract all four of his legs into his shell, then cause fire to spray out of the holes, allowing him to spin around and fly. He can retract his head into his shell the same way, and often does so while flying.

* An early Creator/StephenChow movie, ''The Royal Tramp'', involved a battle with the MadeOfIron villain who could even retract his manparts. But Stephen's character, having grown up in a brothel, learned how to counteract this by shoving something up the [[AssShove backdoor.]]

* The title characters of ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles1990'' all have the ability to do this. During the final Foot battle of the film, Mikey retracts his head into his shell to keep it from being taken off by a Foot mook's axe. "God, I love being a turtle!"

** [[Characters/LiloAndStitchExperiments Several of of Stitch's "cousins"]] also have this ability.

* ''Disney/LiloAndStitch'' has Stitch with retractable antennae, back spines, claws, and second pair of arms.
** [[WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitchTheSeries Almost all of Stitch's "cousins"]] also have this ability.

* {{Kaiju}} movies starring {{Gamera}}, the flying turtle. Gamera can retract all four of his legs into his shell, then cause fire to spray out of the holes, allowing him to spin around and fly. He can retract his head into his shell the same way, and often does so while flying.

* In the film ''Film/LiloAndStitch'', Stitch demonstrates this ability when taking refuge in a dog pound as seen above.

* TheFutureIsWild has the Flish with a retractable second mouth.

** Darumaka in battle and in the anime can retract their limbs into their body, giving them the appearance of an egg.

* Fran of ''Manga/FrankenFran'' only has two arms normally, but when operating on people she suddenly sprouts half a dozen arms from... somewhere (then again, this is a manga where a girl's hand was stitched to her severed head and miniature vital organs crammed inside her skull to save her life).

* Anything involving Turtles and Snails.

This is an ability common to creatures that possess a protective shell, which can retract their limbs within it as a natural mean of self-defense. Features such as retractable [[WolverineClaws claws]] or teeth are also quite common, although for a more [[NaturalWeapon offensive use]]. More rarely, some creatures will be able to retract their legs or arms inside their body itself ; in that case, it will most often be a case of either having BizarreAlienBiology or being an EldritchAbomination.

[[{{YMMV}} Your Mileage May Vary]] on whether this ability is to be considered NightmareFuel or [[RuleOfCool Extremely Awesome]] when applied to human beings.

* Several species of turtles and tortoises are able to retract their legs and neck inside of their shell.

ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, the ability to retract one's body like a turtle or snail. Your Mileage May Vary but it can be considered either NightmareFuel or [[RuleOfCool Extremely Awesome]] when a human has such an ability.

See also TelescopingRobot and RetractableWeapon.

* Turtles
* Snails
** Snail eyes.
* The glans in the penis and clitoris is this.
* The foreskin in the penis is this too.
** The penis itself is this to most animals.
* The testes are this partially, sometimes to greater extents in some animals.
[[/folder]]

* VideoGame/{{Pokemon}} Generation V has the golem-like Golurk who is able to fly this way by retracing its arms and legs.

** Also Darumakas in battle and in the anime can retract their limbs into their body, giving them the appearance of an egg.

ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, the ability to retract one's body like a turtle or snail. Your Mileage May Very but it can be considered either NightmareFuel or [[RuleOfCool Extremely Awesome]] when a human has such an ability.

* The electronic devices in ''TheBraveLittleToaster'' all have retractable faces, with the exception of Radio, who for some reason actually doesn't have a face.
* The ''Film/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles'' all have the ability to do this. During the final Foot battle of the film, Mikey retracts his head into his shell to keep it from being taken off by a Foot mook's axe. "God, I love being a turtle!"

ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, The ability to retract one's body like a turtle or snail. Your Mileage May Very but it can be considered either NightmareFuel or [[RuleOfCool Extremely Awesome]] when a Human has such an ability.

* [[Film/InspectorGadget Inspector Gadget 2]] has this happen to Gadget when he ducks a punch in the face at a bar.
* In the film ''Film/LiloAndStitch'', Stitch demonstrates this ability when taking refuge in a dog pound.

* A fun image on {{Neopets}} reveals Cybunnies can retract their heads into their body.

* ''Disney/LiloAndStitch'' has Stitch with retractable antennae, back spikes, claws, and second pair of arms.
** Almost all of Stitch's "cousins" also have this ability.