Tails aren’t just animal accessories. They usually carry specific functions. But when it comes to rays, their function has been somewhat mysterious until now. Cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus) — like ...

Tails are vital for animals. They help with balance and communication. Some animals have long tails. These tails aid in flight and movement. They also attract mates. Tails can defend against predators ...

Commonly known as the cownose ray, Rhinoptera bonasus is a species of ray found in the western Atlantic Ocean, from the Gulf of Mexico to the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. Recognizable by ...

Both males and females of many avian species maintain elaborate plumage traits, and elaborate monomorphic plumage may convey adaptive benefits to one or both sexes as inter- or intraspecific signals.

Learn more about the gene linked to the evolutionary loss of human tails, and how, in rare cases, some people are still born with them.