Prehensile tail

A tail adapted to grasp and hold objects. It can function as an extra limb for climbing, stabilizing the body, or manipulating food.

Caudal vertebrae: The bones forming the tail portion of a vertebrate's spine. Their number, shape, and mobility help determine how a tail bends around objects.
Arboreal locomotion: Movement through trees and other elevated vegetation. A grasping tail can stabilize the body and provide an additional point of support.
Nonprehensile tail: A tail that is not adapted to grasp and hold objects. Most mammalian tails cannot securely wrap around and hold a support.
Convergent evolution: The independent evolution of similar traits in distinct lineages. Grasping tails evolved in multiple groups rather than from one shared prehensile-tailed ancestor.
Tendon: A band of connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone or other structures. Tail muscles transmit force through tendons to curl or tighten a grasp.
Spider monkey: A New World monkey in the genus Ateles, characterized by long limbs and a strongly grasping tail. Its tail can bear weight and help it move through the canopy.
Prehensile: Adapted for grasping or holding objects with an appendage. The tail is one of several body structures that can evolve grasping ability.
New World monkeys: The primate group native to Central and South America, also called platyrrhines. Some members evolved muscular, grasping tails suited to life in the canopy.
Skeletal muscle: Contractile muscle tissue controlled largely by the somatic nervous system. Its contraction bends the tail and maintains a hold on a branch or object.
Howler monkey: A New World monkey in the genus Alouatta, known for loud calls and a grasping tail. The tail supports the body as howler monkeys reach for leaves.

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