rattailed

Rattailed is an adjective used to describe organisms that have a long, tail-like projection. In biology, it is most commonly associated with the larval stage of certain flies known as rat-tailed maggots. These larvae belong to hoverflies (family Syrphidae), with the best-known example being the larva of Eristalis tenax, though other related species produce similar forms.

The defining feature of rat-tailed maggots is an extremely elongated posterior breathing tube, or siphon, that can be longer than the body. This telescoping siphon enables the larva to breathe air from the surface while remaining submerged in water. The body itself is typically pale and worm-like, and the larva is well adapted to living in aqueous, often low-oxygen environments.

Rattailed larvae inhabit stagnant or slow-moving waters rich in organic matter, such as ponds, marshes, dung piles, sewage lagoons, and other polluted habitats. They feed on microorganisms and detritus. After a larval stage, they pupate and later emerge as adult hoverflies, which are important pollinators. Because their presence often correlates with rich organic content and sometimes low dissolved oxygen, rat-tailed maggots can serve as informal bioindicators of water quality.

The term is primarily descriptive and used in entomology to characterize this distinctive larval morphology. While most common attention falls on hoverfly larvae, the phrase rattailed highlights the notable resemblance of the organism’s tail-like siphon to a rat’s tail.