Virginia opossums are the only marsupial species in North America.

These animals’ webbed feet, hairy legs and tails make them masters of the water. Grace King. Aug. 1, 2022 7:00 am.

Humans’ closest primate relatives lost their tails about 25 million years ago, but exactly how has remained a mystery. A breakthrough in genetic research may finally offer answers.

And all of them, quickly, you will see, stand at the master’s feet, wagging their tails tenderly," he said in an interview with VGTRK journalist Pavel Zarubin.

To understand how apes and humans lost their tail, Mr. Xia looked at how the tail forms in other animals. In the early stages of an embryo’s development, a set of master genes switch on ...

A newly discovered genetic mechanism helped eliminate the tails of human ancestors. Skip to main content. Scientific American. February 28, 2024. 4 min read. How Humans Lost Their Tails.