Final answer:
A prehensile tail is a tail that can grasp or hold objects. It is an adaptation found in animals like monkeys and reptiles, allowing them to move and navigate in trees.
Step-by-step explanation:
\A prehensile tail is a specialized tail found in some mammals and reptiles that has adapted to be able to grasp or hold objects. Primarily, this adaptation is used for climbing and hanging from branches, aiding animals like spider monkeys in their arboreal lifestyle. The tail contains muscle and skeletal elements that allow it to be moved with precision and strength, acting as a fifth limb to support the animal as it navigates through trees. This adaptation is very useful in environments where having additional support for locomotion can be advantageous for reaching food sources or avoiding predators.
Aside from prehensile tails, other adaptations in some arboreal animals for navigating their environment include very long arms suitable for brachiation, which is a method of swinging from branch to branch, and sticky pads on their fingers to help cling to tree trunks and branches.