Prehensility

Prehensility is the quality of an

adapted for grasping or holding. The word is derived from the Latin term prehendere, meaning "to grasp". The ability to grasp is likely derived from a number of different origins. The most common are tree-climbing and the need to manipulate food.^[1]

Examples

Appendages that can become prehensile include:

feet	The hands of primates are all prehensile to varying degrees The front paws of raccoons and many of their relatives are prehensile. The feet of passerine birds can be prehensile
Tails	New World monkeys have prehensile tails Tails of many extant lizards (geckos, chameleons, and a species of skink) are prehensile Seahorses grip seaweed with their tails. Several synapsid Suminia.^[3]
Tongue	Giraffes' tongues in particular are prehensile Some other ungulates ' tongues are also prehensile to a lesser extent	Giraffe's prehensile tongue
Nose	The noses of elephants and tapirs are prehensile
Lip or lips	Lips of lake sturgeon, orangutans, horses, and rhinos Upper lip of the West Indian manatee
Tentacles	Arms of octopuses, squid, and the cirri of nautiluses To a limited extent, the tentacles of sea anemones, hydra, and a few other invertebrates can grasp and move objects

Uses

Prehensility affords animals a great natural advantage in manipulating their environment for feeding, climbing,

feeding and self-cleaning

.

References

ISSN 0024-4066
.

^ Silvio Renesto, Justin A.; Spielmann, Spencer G. Lucas; Spagnoli, Giorgio Tarditi (2010). "The taxonomy and paleobiology of the Late Triassic (Carnian-Norian: Adamanian-Apachean) drepanosaurs (Diapsida: Archosauromorpha: Drepanosauromorpha)". New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 46: 1–81.

PMID 19640883
.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prehensility&oldid=1214839685"

[1] ISSN 0024-4066
.

[renesto2010-2] Silvio Renesto, Justin A.; Spielmann, Spencer G. Lucas; Spagnoli, Giorgio Tarditi (2010). "The taxonomy and paleobiology of the Late Triassic (Carnian-Norian: Adamanian-Apachean) drepanosaurs (Diapsida: Archosauromorpha: Drepanosauromorpha)". New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 46: 1–81.

[frobisch2009-3] PMID 19640883
.

[1]

[3]