The role of mouse tails in response to external and self-generated balance perturbations on the roll plane.

Chordate tails exhibit considerable morphological and functional diversity, with variations in length, diameter and texture adapted to various ecological roles. While some animals, including humans, have lost or reduced their tails, many vertebrates retain and use their tails for activities such as balancing, climbing and escaping predators. This study investigates how laboratory mice (Mus musculus) use their tails to maintain balance when dealing with external and self-generated perturbations.