Tiger tail

A tiger tail is part of the morphology of a tiger.

The natural pattern of the colouration of a tiger's tail depends largely on the subspecies. The extinct Caspian tiger had less developed angular patterns at the base of its tail than subspecies of the Far East. Tail length also varies between subspecies. The tails of Bengal tigers are shorter than those of Siberian tigers, which, in fully grown males, are about 1 m (39 in) in length. Tigers have a variety of uses for their tails. When jumping, they use their tails as rudders. Their tails help them balance when they are climbing. Tigers also use their tails to communicate with each other. An upright, slowly wagging tail indicates friendliness, while an outstretched, quickly wagging tail indicates excitement, and a tail that is barely moving and angled towards the ground indicates tenseness.

In traditional Chinese medicine, tiger tails are used to treat cutaneous conditions and rheumatism. In 19th-century Korea, a military unit serving under Heungseon Daewongun wielded spears around which they tied tiger tails. Korean proverbs include "If you tread on the tail of a tiger, you'll know it," and "It is hard to let go the tail of a tiger." The idea of treading on the tail of a tiger is common in East Asia, and is often used to refer to a hazardous situation.

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