Question

Which of the following following animals possesses switch of tail?

• A. Calf
• B. Foal
• C. Kid
• D. Filly

Hint:

Term breakdown:
Cattle tail = tail head + tail shaft + switch (tuft of hair).
Horse tail = dock (fleshy part) + skirt (flowing hair).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Different animal species have distinct anatomical features and terminology used to describe their body parts.
A "switch" refers to a specific structural part of the tail found in certain livestock species.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The tail of a bovine (cattle) consists of a bony coccygeal section covered with short hair, which terminates in a tuft of long, coarse hair.
This terminal tuft of hair is anatomically referred to as the "switch" of the tail.
Cattle use the switch primarily to swat flies and insects away from their hindquarters.
A calf (a young bovine) possesses this anatomical feature from birth.
A foal (young horse) and a filly (young female horse) have tails covered in long hair from the dock down, which is not referred to as a switch.
A kid (young goat) has a short, upright tail that lacks a terminal switch of long hair.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Among the options provided, the calf is the only animal that possesses a switch of tail.