In the real world, very few animals have truly Prehensile Tails (for example, New World monkeys are the only monkeys that can hang by their tails, despite what Hollywood would have you believe). It takes special flexible vertebrae, strong and precise muscles, and often a weird bald patch on the underside to truly use a tail as an extra hand—in the real world, at least. In the world of fiction (particularly animation), often all it takes is a tail. Cats, dogs, mice, crocodilians, and other vertebrates (particularly mammals and reptiles) are often seen using their tails to carry things, especially when depicted non-anthropomorphically, when it is the only thing that could maybe work as a hand.
This trope is for when an animal is depicted using its tail to grasp objects when it couldn't do it in real life if it tried. It does not apply to fictional species like aliens or dragons, who can do whatever they want.
Sub-trope of Prehensile Tail.
Examples:
- Kung Fu Panda: Tai Lung (a snow leopard) apparently has enough use of his tail to grasp a feather and use it to pick a lock.
- The Jungle Book (1967): The monkeys are able to hang from their tails, despite being (presumably) Old World monkeys.
- Redwall: Squirrels are often described as hanging from their tails, something no European squirrel can do, at least.
- The Witches: After the main character gets turned into a mouse, he's able to use his tail to hang and swing from kitchen equipment, which should be impossible for all but a few special species of mice.
- Gary the Rat: Gary's is used for Amusing Injuries because even though it's fully capable of moving around and grabbing things, he just drags it with reckless abandon.
- The Lionhearts: As a retired circus star, Lana Lionheart can grab things in the tassel of her tail.
- Littlest Pet Shop (2012): Pepper, a skunk, can grab various things with her tail. She can also balance atop of it for increased height.
- Looney Tunes: Similarly, Pepé Le Pew has been known to use his tail to ensnare prospective girlfriends.
- Phineas and Ferb: There's a variation on this one time when Doofenshmirtz traps him in a supposedly inanimate cat costume but Perry the Platypus is still somehow able to use the cat's tail to free himself. His actual tail has this function as well.
- Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat: The cats are depicted as being able to grasp objects with their tails, e.g. Sagwa showing Shigwa how to play with a top by coiling her tail around it.
