Examples of rodents that look like mice include rats, voles, hamsters, lemmings, and muskrats.
Mice are a type of rodent that is common in many homes. They are small and slender, with short legs and a long tail. They have round ears and a pointed nose. While mice are generally considered benign pests, they can carry diseases and cause damage to property.
There are several other types of rodents that may be mistaken for mice. In this blog post, we will explore three different types of rodents that look like mice and provide some tips on how to identify them.
Examples of Rodents that Look Like Mice
1. Arctic Lemming
| Scientific Name | Dicrostonyx torquatus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Arctic tundra |
The first type of rodent that looks like a mouse is the Arctic lemming. These small animals are found in the northernmost parts of the world, including Greenland, Iceland, and northern Canada. They have short legs and a round body with a blunt nose. Their fur is dense and thick, which helps to keep them warm in the cold climates where they live.
2. Asian House Shrew
| Scientific Name | Suncus murinus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | South and Southeast Asia |
The Asian house shrew is a small, mouse-like rodent that is common in Asia. It has a reddish-brown coat and a long, pointed snout. The Asian house shrew is slightly larger than a mouse and has a longer tail.
3. Australian Swamp Rat
| Scientific Name | Rattus lutreolus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Australia |
The Australian swamp rat is a type of rodent that is found in wetlands. It is brown or black in color and has a long tail. It is similar in size to a mouse and has large ears.
The easiest way to distinguish an Australian swamp rat from a mouse is by its tail. The tail of an Australian swamp rat is much longer than that of a mouse. Additionally, Australian swamp rats have larger ears and are typically darker in color.
4. Bank Vole
| Scientific Name | Myodes glareolus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Worldwide |
The bank vole is a small rodent that is found in Europe and Asia. It has a reddish-brown coat and a white underbelly. It is similar in size to a mouse, but it has a shorter tail and smaller ears.
The bank vole is a herbivore that feeds on plants and nuts. It is active during the day and night.
In the wild, bank voles live in forests, meadows, and fields. They build nests out of grass and leaves.
5. Black Rat
| Scientific Name | Rattus rattus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Massachusetts to British Columbia and throughout much of Mexico |
The black rat is also known as the ship rat or house rat. It is a common pest in homes and businesses. Black rats are larger than mice, with an adult body length of up to 18 inches. They have black fur, large ears, and a long tail. Black rats are good climbers and can jump up to 3 feet high.
6. Brown Rat
| Scientific Name | Rattus norvegicus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | every continent except Antarctica |
The next type of rodent that looks like a mouse is the brown rat. These rats are larger than mice, and they have a long body with a pointed nose. They are typically brown or black in color, with a light-colored belly. Brown rats are found throughout the world, but they originated in Asia.
7. Bush Rat
| Scientific Name | Rattus fuscipes |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | In Australasia |
The bush rat is a native of Australia and New Zealand. It is a small, stocky rodent with short legs and a long tail. Bush rats have large ears and a pointed nose. They are brown or black in color with a light underside.
While bush rats are not as common in homes like mice, they can still be found in areas with high moisture levels, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Bush rats are also known to carry diseases, so it is important to take precautions if you think you have seen one.
8. Canadian Lemming
| Scientific Name | Lemmus trimucronatus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | northern Canada |
The next type of rodent that looks like a mouse is the Canadian lemming. Lemmings are small rodents that are native to the Arctic tundra. They have short legs and a round body shape. They are brown or grey in coloration with a light underbelly. Canadian lemmings can be found in the northernmost parts of Canada.
9. Common Shrew
| Scientific Name | Soricidae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | throughout the woodlands, grasslands, and hedgelands of Britain, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe |
The common shrew is a small, mouse-like mammal that is found in North America. It has a pointed snout, small eyes, and reddish-brown fur. The common shrew is not a true mouse, but it is often mistaken for one.
10. Common Vole
| Scientific Name | Microtus arvalis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America range from Alaska southward to the mountains of Mexico and Guatemala |
The common vole (Microtus arvalis) is a small rodent that is found in Europe, Asia, and North America. They are brown or gray in color with a short, dense coat of fur. They have small, rounded ears and a blunt nose. Their tail is short and they have small feet with short claws.
11. Dormice
| Scientific Name | Gliridae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Africa, Asia, and Europe |
Dormice are a type of rodent that is found in Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are similar in size to mice, but they have longer hind legs and a shorter tail. Dormice are also nocturnal, meaning they are active at night.
12. Eastern Meadow Vole
| Scientific Name | Microtus pennsylvanicus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | throughout eastern North America |
The Eastern meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) is a small rodent that is found in the eastern United States. They are brown or gray in color with a white underside. They have short legs and a long tail. They can reach up to 8 inches in length.
Meadow voles are often confused with mice because of their similar size and appearance. However, there are several key differences between the two animals. Meadow voles have a shorter snout and rounder ears than mice.
13. Etruscan Shrew
| Scientific Name | Suncus etruscus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Europe and Asia |
The Etruscan shrew is a type of mouse-like rodent that is found in Europe and Asia. It is the smallest mammal in the world, with a body length of only 3 to 4 cm. The Etruscan shrew has a reddish-brown coat and a long, pointed snout. It is an active creature, and can often be seen running and jumping in its natural habitat.
14. European Water Vole
| Scientific Name | Arvicola amphibius |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Europe, Russia, West Asia, and Kazakhstan |
The European water vole is a type of rodent that is found in Europe and Asia. It is similar in appearance to a mouse, but it has a longer body and tail. The water vole also has furry ears and prominent whiskers.
15. Gerbils
| Scientific Name | Gerbillinae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Middle East, Africa, and Asia |
Gerbils are a type of rodent that is native to Africa and Asia. They are small, with short legs and a long tail. They have large ears and a pointed nose. Gerbils are typically brown or gray in color.
Gerbils are often kept as pets, but they can also be found in the wild. In the wild, gerbils typically live in burrows.
16. Hamsters
| Scientific Name | Cricetinae |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Greece, Romania, Belgium, and northern China |
Hamsters are small, furry rodents that are popular pets. They have short legs and a stubby tail. Their bodies are plump and round, and they have small, round ears. Hamsters come in a variety of colors, including brown, black, white, and gray.
Hamsters are generally larger than mice, but they can be similar in size. The best way to tell them apart is by their tail: hamsters have stubby tails, while mice have long, slender tails.
Related Article: 25 Animals Like Hamsters
17. Harvest Mice
| Scientific Name | Micromys minutus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Europe and Asia |
Harvest mice are small rodents that are native to Europe and Asia. They are brown or grey in color with a white underbelly. Their tail is longer than their body and they have large, round ears. Harvest mice are good climbers and often build nests in trees or shrubs.
18. Muskrats
| Scientific Name | Ondatra zibethicus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America |
Muskrats are a type of rodent that is common in North America. They are larger than mice, with a stocky body and short legs. Their tails are long and thin, and they have small, round ears. Muskrats are usually brown or black, with a white belly.
Muskrats live in wet areas, such as marshes or swamps. They build dens in the mud, which can be mistaken for mouse burrows. Muskrats are good swimmers, and they often use their tails to prop themselves up when they are swimming.
19. Northern Collared Lemming
| Scientific Name | Dicrostonyx groenlandicus |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | the tundra of northern Canada, Alaska, and Greenland |
The northern collared lemming is a small, brown rodent that is found in the Arctic tundra. It has a short tail and legs, and its body is covered in fur. It has a white stripe on its back, and its ears are black.
The northern collared lemming is similar in size and appearance to a mouse, but it can be distinguished by its black ears and white stripe.
20. Palm Rat
| Scientific Name | Rattus palmarum |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Florida and other tropical climates |
The next type of rodent that looks like a mouse is the palm rat. Palm rats are found in Africa and Asia and typically have brown fur. They are larger than mice, with a body length of up to 8 inches. They also have longer tails, which can be up to 12 inches long.
While palm rats may look like mice, there are several ways to tell them apart. Palm rats have larger eyes and ears, and their tails are thicker at the base. Additionally, palm rats typically live in trees and eat fruits, nuts, and seeds, while mice live on the ground and eat plants and insects.
21. Polynesian Rat
| Scientific Name | Rattus exulans |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Southeast Asia |
The Polynesian rat, also known as the kiore, is a type of rodent that is native to the islands of Polynesia. These rats are small, with bodies that measure up to 7 inches in length. They are brown or black in color, with pointed noses and long tails. Polynesian rats are good swimmers and climbers, and they are often found in trees.
22. Prairie Vole
| Scientific Name | Microtus ochrogaster |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | North America |
The prairie vole is a type of mouse that is found in North America. They are small rodents with short, furry tails and large, round ears. They are brown or gray in color and have a white stripe running down their backs. Prairie voles are typically found in grasslands and fields.
23. Ricefield Rat
| Scientific Name | Rattus argentiventer |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Southeast Asia |
The ricefield rat is a type of rodent that is found in Asia and Africa. They are similar in size and shape to mice, but they have a longer tail and larger ears. They are also known to be more aggressive than mice.
24. Short-Tailed Field Vole
| Scientific Name | Microtus agrestis |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | Europe and Asia |
The short-tailed field vole (Microtus agrestis) is a small rodent that is found in Europe and Asia. It is similar in size and appearance to a mouse, but it has a shorter tail and its ears are not as prominent. The fur of the short-tailed field vole is brown on the back and white on the belly.
25. Southern Bog Lemming
| Scientific Name | Synaptomys cooperi |
| Type of Animal | Mammal |
| Range | sphagnum bogs |
The Southern Bog Lemming is a type of rodent that is found in the southeastern United States. It is small and brown, with an elongated body and short legs. It has large ears and a long tail.
The Southern Bog Lemming is most active at night and during the winter months. It feeds on plants, insects, and small mammals.
Conclusion
There are a variety of rodents that can be found in homes around the world. While many people think that all mice look alike, there are actually several different types of mice that you might encounter. The most common type of mouse is the house mouse, followed by the black rat and the bank vole.
Hi, I’m Garreth. Living in South Africa I’ve had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal. When I was younger I always wanted to be a game ranger but unfortunately, life happens and now at least I get to write about them and tell you my experiences.