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.

WASHINGTON — Our very ancient animal ancestors had tails. Why don’t we? Somewhere around 20 million or 25 million years ago, when apes diverged from monkeys, our branch of the tree of life ...

When compared to their nearest neighbors, the wolves, dogs wag their tails significantly more often, and from a much earlier age. This suggests that their wagging behavior evolved in line with ...

Peafowls, symbols of royalty and beauty, captivate with their vibrant plumage and iconic tails. From the well-known Indian ...

Tails are a common feature across the animal kingdom. Nearly every class of vertebrate has them. Reptiles use them for self-defense and attacking prey. Tails help with balance and communication in ...

The findings flip the long-held belief that dogs wag their tails when happy, and instead suggest tail wags made people happy, so we selected for the trait.