multitailed

Multitailed is an adjective used to describe any creature, object, or concept that has multiple tails. It is not a formal scientific term, but it appears in folklore, fantasy literature, and media to convey multiplicity, longevity, or magical power.

In mythology and folklore, multitailed beings are common motifs. The best-known example is the nine-tailed fox, or kitsune in Japan and huli jing in China. In these traditions, the number of tails is often linked to age and wisdom, with more tails indicating greater power or magical ability. Similar ideas appear in other cultures where creatures bear several tails as symbols of supernatural attributes. In non-mythical contexts, multitailed imagery is sometimes used to evoke complexity, resilience, or other symbolic meanings.

In popular culture, multitailed figures appear in novels, anime, video games, and fantasy works. A prominent example is the nine-tailed beast in the Naruto franchise, commonly referred to as Kurama, which uses its many tails to signify immense power and to drive narrative tension within the fictional universe.

From a biological standpoint, no widely recognized living species naturally possesses multiple functional tails. Most animals have a single tail, and while some species can shed or regenerate tails, this does not create independent, permanent tails. As a descriptor, multitailed remains primarily a figurative or symbolic term rather than a taxonomic classification.

See also: kitsune, huli jing, nine-tailed fox, multitailed beings in folklore.