At Ecologist Verde we want to show you the difference between rat and mouse, two apparently very similar species. The idea is that this helps us learn more about these animals that are small mammals and that live both in the countryside and in large cities.
Although broadly these two rodents may appear very similar to the human eye, except for their marked difference in size, there are other aspects that clearly differentiate them. Would you like to learn a little more about them? Well, we invite you to read this simple article by Green Ecologist made for the curious as well as for lovers of the animal kingdom.
To start, we want to show you the main differences between rat and mouse in a clear and summarized way:
As in the previous section on the differences, now we offer you a list with the similarities between rat and mouse:
Rats belong to the genus Rattus and they are one of the most widespread medium-sized rodent species on the planet. In general, they are animals that live closely with human populations, hence their natural habitat today is within urban areas or in the immediate vicinity of them and not only in the countryside, forests, etc.
Most of the species of rats on the planet are native to Asia. However, thanks to their resistance and their ability to adapt to the environment, they have been able to conquer almost the entire world. Perhaps, due to these two factors, they are considered a plague and a source of diseases, since there are many that can transmit us to people, as with many other mammals (the other way around it also happens, there are diseases that we transmit to other mammals and some go both ways).
Although there are some slight differences between the city rat and the rat of camp both are of similar size, live in community, have a wide snout, strong teeth, and sturdy legs. Usually, its tail is longer and thicker than that of mice, it is one of its most characteristic physical aspects.
The house rats They are rare companion animals, but in recent years many have decided to have one at home. These are very intelligent and affectionate, to the point where they develop a great attachment to their caregiver. However, as they require certain specific care and have generally always been liked less in society, they tend to be less common in homes than mice.
Mice, or genus Mus, are one of the smallest rodents and scattered across the planet. They are distinguished from the rat mainly by their size and some features of the ears and snout. Between the two species of mice best known are the common mouse or Mus domesticus and the field mouse or Apodemus sylvaticus. In both cases, they usually live in large communities that move to find food and shelter. Also, mice are quite territorial.
Unlike with rats, and although they can also sometimes become an annoying pest, they tend to be better seen by people. In fact, along with hamsters, are one of the most common pets in many homes. These do not require great care, but many people forget that they are nocturnal animals and that, therefore, they are not usually suitable for living with people, on the one hand they can disturb at night and interrupt the rest of those who live in the house and On the other hand, for them, obviously, it is not a great advantage to live in cages, except in cases in which they can be offered habitat, food and other conditions that are very well adapted to them.
Learn more about them with this other post on The Importance of Field Mice. In addition, after having known the difference between rat and mouse, we encourage you to learn more about these and other animals with these other Green Ecologist articles about the Characteristics of land mammals and the Characteristics of wild and domestic animals.
If you want to read more articles similar to Difference between rat and mouse, we recommend that you enter our category of Animal Curiosities.