Tail-o-Scopes are a mammalian species that, at some undetermined date many years ago, inherited a hostile parasite which has been passed down through their generations.
While the original name of the Tail-o-Scope is unknown, it's current name has obvious origins.

Tail

• ToS sport a long, prehensile, tail-like appendage with a large eyeball growing on the tip.
• The fur growing on this tail is thick so as to protect the main housing of the parasite.
• Attempts to remove or otherwise impair this large eye have resulted in hostile behavior from the tail itself, which will thrash and constrict offenders.
• If attempts continue, the ToS will be sent into a defensive rage until it or the attacker is terminated.
• If the eye actually does become severely damaged, the parasite will direct the ToS to a safe location and force it into a repairative coma.

Vision

• The tail eye serves at the ToS's primary vision.
• The parasite will effect the normal pair of eyes, sometimes to the point of total blindness, to force the ToS to rely more on the tail.
• Though there are some cases in whish a ToS can still effectively use its normal pair of eyes, they are still covered to avoid input confusion from two different sources.
• In very rare cases, a ToS may defiantly choose to use one or both of its functioning normal eyes.

Coping

• Tail-o-Scopes have had a long time to live with their parasite.
• Many choose to cover their useless eyes with unique and expressive items such as bandanas, blindfolds, goggles, and veils.
• While a lot ToS have come to terms with it, and even more still consider themselves very protective of their tails, there are some that resent the parasite.

Reproduction

• Most ToS have only one child - to which the parasite is passed down. -Males do not pass down parasites, resulting in females and female children being favored
• When a ToS becomes pregnant, so too does the parasite.. in a sense.
• The parasite will prepare itself to release an underdeveloped version of itself, which kills the original parasite.
• This new, young parasite takes over the infant's body and the process begins anew.
• In rare cases, a ToS female may produce more than one child at once, resulting in uninfected children.
• Usually the parent(s) or siblings will dispose of the uninfected, as it's considered a threat to the future of the parasite.
• In even rarer cases, a single ToS may be born uninfected.
• Again, these are usually disposed of by the parent(s).
• A few uninfected have been adopted from mothers who died shortly after birth, and successfully raised in an outside environment.

If a ToS dies before giving birth, the parasite dies with it.

Uninfected

• Uninfected ToS have considerably shorter tails with less fluff.
• Their normal eyes function properly.
• They are much less hostile and make good pets/companions.