Prehensile describes an appendage or organ that has the ability to curl around objects and grip them.


The word Prehensile is derived from the Latin prehendere which means to grasp.


Appendages that can become prehensile include:
feet (primates), claws (cats), tails (primates, lizards), tongue (giraffes), nose (elephants, tapirs) and lips (rhinoceros, lake sturgeon)


Associated terms: Prehensility