Topic: [BUR] Condensing tail tags

The bulk update request #12205 is pending approval.

create alias cat_tail (6404) -> tail (1739153)
create alias dog_tail (817) -> tail (1739153)
create alias monkey_tail (314) -> tail (1739153)
create alias dragon_tail (1479) -> tail (1739153)
create alias wolf_tail (1434) -> tail (1739153)
create alias fox_tail (4616) -> tail (1739153)
create alias squirrel_tail (1101) -> tail (1739153)
create alias raccoon_tail (666) -> ringed_tail (10469)
create alias lizard_tail (840) -> scaly_tail (1437)
create alias equine_tail (319) -> horse_tail (1369)
remove implication tiger_tail (138) -> striped_tail (43782)

Reason: Objective descriptions are preferred to naming tails after species. This has already been done for lion_tail and cow_tail; it should be applied to the remaining animal tails as well. This is especially relevant to dragon_tail, since, as a fictional species, there's no objective reference for what a "dragon tail" is supposed to look like.

The exception to this is horse_tail, which is a genuinely unique kind of tail. If it has an objective/academic name, I'm not aware of it. The alias could go either way, but this way aliases the less-used tag to the more-used one.

Discussion around mouse_tail and rat_tail can be found at topic #57201.

alias tiger_tail -> striped_tail

beholding said:
create alias dragon_tail (1422) -> scaly_tail (1234)

Not all dragons are scaly (scaly as meaning composed of scales, not scalie as meaning reptile-like), or have tails that are visually scaly. Some dragon tails can be furred or smooth with no discernible texture. There would be a similar problem with aliasing dragon_wings to membranous_wings (see topic #33060). Might be better to alias to just tail like the others.

beholding said:
create alias wolf_tail (1382) -> fluffy_tail (129992)
create alias fox_tail (4300) -> fluffy_tail (129992)
create alias squirrel_tail (1003) -> fluffy_tail (129992)

I'm not sure these are always depicted in ways that would be considered fluffy. Technically also they're supposed to be for animal_humanoids with that animal's tail (similar for fox_ears, rabbit_ears, and such), but they're so misused, they might not be worth trying to fix and keep clean.

watsit said:
I'm not sure these are always depicted in ways that would be considered fluffy.

From a quick glance, I don't see any non-fluffy tails in ~wolf_tail ~fox_tail ~squirrel_tail -fluffy.

beholding said:
From a quick glance, I don't see any non-fluffy tails in ~wolf_tail ~fox_tail -fluffy.

https://e621.net/posts/5845961?q=Fox+tail

Fox tails and wolf tails can be depicted in ways that are not fluffy such as this one.

manitka said:
https://e621.net/posts/5845961?q=Fox+tail

Fox tails and wolf tails can be depicted in ways that are not fluffy such as this one.

That looks fluffy to me. It's stylized, but still bushy.

beholding said:
That looks fluffy to me. It's stylized, but still bushy.

Fluffy != thick. Being fluffy means it's composed of deep soft fur, like you could bury your hands or face into it. Given TWYS, that tail doesn't appear fluffy, just a solid tan mass, not too unlike the tail in post #5835013.

create alias fox_tail (4300) -> fluffy_tail (130014)
create alias squirrel_tail (1003) -> fluffy_tail (130014)

Not all fox and squirrel tails are fluffy! As Watsit says, I only add the fluffy_tail tag if there's a significant amount of thick fur texture.

I'd call this fluffy:
post #5800447

But not these:
post #5438263 post #5763568

This is a fox tail, but IMO it shouldn't be tagged as a fluffy tail because the wetness has removed all the fluffiness:

post #5407509

---

But while we're on the subject of removing species tail tags, here's something I've been meaning to ask about:

I've added the tag mermaid_tail to a lot of images, but I've been wondering if it really needs to be its own tag. As the OP says about dragon tails, there's no standard for what a mermaid tail is except the kind of creature it belongs to. The way it's used now, the mermaid_tail tag is essentially just a shortcut for the tag combinations merfolk+split_form+fish_tail and merfolk+split_form+cetacean_tail (depending on if they have tail_fins or flukes respectively).*

So, is the mermaid_tail tag really useful, or is it just a shortcut to summarise information that's already provided by those other species (merfolk), body form (split form) and tail type (fish/cetacean) tags?

*(Also, some split form merfolk have seal-like lower halves - as in post #2799137 and post #2355819 - and for that reason I've thought about creating a pinniped_tail tag, too.)

Given TWYS, that tail doesn't appear fluffy, just a solid tan mass, not too unlike the tail in post #5835013.

Okay, but it's clearly made of fur and not flesh.

chemistrynoisy said:
Not all fox and squirrel tails are fluffy! As Watsit says, I only add the fluffy_tail tag if there's a significant amount of thick fur texture.

I'd call this fluffy:
post #5800447

But not these:
post #5438263 post #5763568

I would call all of those fluffy, but if the community disagrees I'll concede. The fluffy tails have been changed to a -> tail request. Adjust your votes accordingly.

I don't use mermaid_tail often enough to have an opinion on that one. I do think it has value given the tail is such a crucial part of a mermaid.