History Main / PrehensileTail

* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda'': Viper and Tai Lung can grab things with their tails. Tai Lung's ability to do this is instrumental in his escaping from imprisonment. Since his hands are tied up, he uses his tail to [[spoiler:pick the lock of his shackles with a feather]].

* ''Film/{{Outlander}}'': The Moorwen is a giant, lizardish thing, but its prehensile tail can be used to grasp, slice, or impale its victims.

%%* ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}}'': Dragon.

* "WesternAnimation/TheRescuersDownUnder": Frank manages to unlock a door in {{McLeach}}’s dungeon using his tail.

* "WesternAnimation/TheRescuersDownUnder": Frank manages to unlock a door in McLeach’s dungeon using his tail.

* "WesternAnimation/TheRescuersDownUnder" Frank manages to unlock a door in McLeach's dungeon using his tail.

* ''Series/FraggleRock'': The Fraggles have somewhat prehensile tails -- they can be used as paintbrushes and can wrap around each other to play tug-o'-tails (like tug-o'-war, but with ... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin you know]]). According to the episode "Wembley's Wonderful Whoopee Water", they are also strong enough to support their owners' whole weight.

** Young Saiyans, like Goku, have tails capable of supporting their body weight, but it's unknown if adult Saiyans can suspend themselves with their tails. In fact, Saiyan tails are notoriously sensitive, and the only instance of a full-grown Saiyan using their tail to attack is when [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil Raditz]] knocks [[PunyEarthlings Krillin]] through Kame House early on in ''DBZ''.

* In an episode of ''WesternAnimayion/TheSimpsons'', Homer becomes a mascot known as "Safety Salamander", with a full costume that includes a tail. Late in the episode, he hugs Lisa and the tail begins patting her on the shoulder. When Lisa asks him how he's doing that, he can only reply "I don't know" in a baffled voice.

* In an episode of ''Series/TheSimpsons'', Homer becomes a mascot known as "Safety Salamander", with a full costume that includes a tail. Late in the episode, he hugs Lisa and the tail begins patting her on the should. When Lisa asks him how he's doing that, he can only reply "I don't know" in a baffled voice.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'': Zidane Tribal has a prehensile monkey tail, although he only uses it once (to hang from the rafters of the pilot's cabin of an Airship). He makes a more combative use for it in the introduction cutscene to ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', hanging onto Tidus' leg, who then sends him soaring at Exdeath in order to break his concentration. In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyBraveExvius'', Zidane's [[LimitBreak Limit Burst]] shows him drawing his sword with his tail.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX'': Zidane Tribal has a prehensile monkey tail, although he only uses it once (to hang from the rafters of the pilot's cabin of an Airship). He makes a more combative use for it in the introduction cutscene to ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy'', hanging onto Tidus' leg, who then sends him soaring at Exdeath in order to break his concentration.

* ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'': In her Omega form, Grace can [[http://egscomics.com/comic/2004-04-21 use two of her tails to hold an enemy in place]] while the third slams them in a TailSlap attack.

* ''VideoGame/MarsupilamiHoobadventure'': As with [[{{ComicBook/Marsupilami}} the source material]], the Marsupilamis have full control over their absolutely massive tails. This translates very well into gameplay abilities, as they can use it for things like rolling, latching onto hooks, and attacking enemies tying a knot in the tail, and then flinging it forward.

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'': In addition to being a dragon's NaturalWeapon to [[TailSlap pommel]] their enemies, Jake occasionally uses his tail as an extra limb to access objects beyond his normal reach.

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'': In addition to being a dragon's NaturalWeapon to TailSlap their enemies, Jake occasionally uses it as an extra limb to access objects beyond his normal reach.

** Sun Wukong from uses his monkey tail to hang from a lamppost and drink tea, among other things.

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'': Dr. Bright considers this one of the reasons why he likes simian bodies.

* '' Viper GTS'': In a rather lurid display, the HornyDevil Mercedes uses hers as a pseudo-penis at one point to have vaginal sex with her fellow succubus, Carrera.

It should be noted that a few {{Beast M|an}}en and most HornyDevils both tend to have these for FantasticArousal [[{{Fanservice}} Service]]. For the less dexterous there may still be [[TailSlap another option]]. See also BewareMyStingerTail when the tail has stuff attached, and HandyFeet for other dexterous appendages. Can fall under BizarreAlienLimbs.

* ''Fanfic/RocketshipVoyager'': Nee'Lix is a [[RatMen rodent-like creature]] with a prehensile tail who evolved from a forest-dwelling species. The tail comes in handy on the eponymous rocketship which doesn't have ArtificialGravity.
* Makoto Nanaya in ''Fanfic/BlazBlueAlternativeRemnant'' is shown using her tail to block attacks and punch people around, as seen in initiation where she used it to block a strike from an Ursa and later to deliver RapidFireFisticuffs to Cardin during a sparring match.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook1967'': Mowgli's second encounter with Kaa. After Mowgli sits down, a long tail hoists him up into a tree, to Mowgli's surprise it's Kaa. After untangling Kaa's coils off, Kaa attempts to hypnotize Mowgli again either by trying to look at the boy in the eyes or grabbing his hand and ankle with his tail. Ultimately, Mowgli's efforts to avoid Kaa are in vain as the snake is able to hypnotize him.

-->'''Leonard:''' They're on my tail! But it's prehensile so I can handle them.

[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
* ''Series/FraggleRock'': The Fraggles have somewhat prehensile tails -- they can be used as paintbrushes and can wrap around each other to play tug-o'-tails (like tug-o'-war, but with ... [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin you know]]). According to the episode "Wembley's Wonderful Whoopee Water", they are also strong enough to support their owners' whole weight.
[[/folder]]

** Tieflings in the 4th edition can take a feat that gives them this (see page image above). You can even pick locks or pockets with it. Multiple female Tieflings in ''D&D'' works have made jokes about the myriad uses of their tails.
** In 3.5th edition, a namesake feat from both ''Serpent Kingdom'' and ''Savage Species'' can make the tail of any species with a tail attack prehensile enough to wield weapons. Please also note the Warshaper PrestigeClass, with which a shapechanger can grow a tail attack; combined with this feat, it means a prehensile tail in pretty much any form.

* ''VideoGame/CryptOfTheNecroDancer'': Coda is a goblin-like creature who wields a dagger in the coiled tip of her long tail -- and, indeed, besides being a musical term, "coda" means "tail" in Italian.

* ''Webcomic/{{Goblins}}'': [[SnakePeople Kin]]'s tail is very agile and... sensitive. And strong enough to [[BreadEggsMilkSquick snap a person's neck]].

* ''Webcomic/{{SSDD}}'': Kerrie, a binturong, has [[http://www.poisonedminds.com/d/20160127.html a prehensile tail]] that she once used to trip another SuperSoldier with bionic legs. When they later go into space she has some fun with it in zero-g, but it proves insufficient to stop [[http://www.poisonedminds.com/d/20190804.html g-forces]].
* ''Webcomic/{{Forestdale}}'': Kyle Kendricks, [[FunnyAnimal an anthropomorphic fox]], has one of these and frequently utilizes it to cheat at card games with his friends.

* ''Wiki/SCPFoundation'': Dr. Bright considers this one of the reasons he likes simian bodies.
* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Some Faunus characters have this:

** [[spoiler:Tyrian Callows]] has a [[BewareMyStingerTail scorpion tail]] that is also prehensile.

* One of the many rules put in place for [[Blog/ThingsMrWelchIsNoLongerAllowedToDoInAnRPG Mr. Welch]] specifically forbids him from having a prehensile ''anything''.

* ''WesternAnimation/DCNation'': In ''Bat Man in Shanghai'', ComicBook/{{Catwoman}} has a long tail she can use to grab things and move around with.

* ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'': Similarly Pepe LePew has been known to use his tail to ensnare prospective girlfriends.

* ''Literature/InCryptid'': Sam Taylor, being a simian {{Therianthrope}}, has a prehensile tail and HandyFeet in his natural form.

* ''Franchise/WonderWoman'' villainess ComicBook/{{Cheetah}} can use her tail to grab and strangle foes. At the start of "[[ComicBook/WonderWoman1987 The Witch and the Warrior]]", Cheetah uses his tail to strangle Superman. He's working for Circe at the time so its unclear which of their magic allowed the attack to be so effective.
* ComicBook/{{Critter}} has a metal tail made of an unknown composition that Cass can control as a fifth limb via her telekinesis. She uses this to aid her movement through the city and as an extra limb to attack or incapacitate her opponents.

* ''ComicBook/{{Hellboy}}'': Hellboy has one, which made him seem kind of monkey-like as a baby.

** ''ComicBook/XMen'': Part of [[Characters/MarvelComicsNightcrawler Nightcrawler]]'s physical mutation is a long, prehensile tail. How capable is it? Swashbuckler Kurt Wagner has been known to use it to wield a '''third''' sword when he's DualWielding, and he's more than capable of matching master fencers with it. This is in addition to it being strong enough to lift a full sized adult's body off the ground or restrain a punching fist.
** ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'': While normally used to shoot acid, classic villain Scorpion was very able to use his mechanical tail to take hostages if he needed to by wrapping it around potential victims.
%%** ''Franchise/SpiderMan': The Lizard.
%%** The ComicBook/{{Exiles}}' Nocturne has a [[{{Squick}} retractable version]].

* Franchise/MonsterVerse: In the ''Kingdom Kong'' graphic novel, [[Characters/MonsterVerseKaiju Camazotz]] at one point uses his tail for grappling in his fight with Kong.

* Makoto Nanaya in ''Fanfic/BlazBlueAlternativeRemnant'' is shown using her tail to block attacks and punch people around, as seen in initiation where she used it to block a strike from an Ursa and later to deliver RapidFireFisticuffs to Cardin during a sparing match.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'': Rattlesnake Jake, who wields a gatling gun in place of a rattle at the end of his tail. Despite this handicap, he is dextrous enough to be able to take fill a small glass with his venom and divest Rango's sixshooter of all but one of it's bullets.

* ''Literature/CiaphasCain'': In ''Death or Glory'', a young tech-priestess of the [[MachineWorship Adeptus Mechanicus]] has a mechadendrite attached to the base of her spine. Besides engineering work, she uses it to operate an improvised weapon while piloting a [[ChickenWalker Sentinel]] load-lifter, grab extra snack bars, or freak people out by leaning on it while it's under her robes, making it look like she's sitting on thin air. The question of course is how [[ReallyGetsAround Cain]] came to know exactly where the mechanical tentacle was attached to the woman.

* ''Series/Babylon5'' reveals that Centauri males have six prehensile... appendages, which can be used to - for instance - cheat at cards. [[spoiler: They're penises. Six prehensile penises.]]
* ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'': Parodied in an episode where the foursome is playing a group roleplaying game as bad guys approach and Leonard mentions they're on his tail... but it's prehensile, so it's not a problem.