What type of Mouse?

stevensi

Hi Guys,

I saw a mouse today in Stephens Green. Only got a fleeting sight but I was wondering if anyone might know what kind it was as my knowledge of mice Ireland is not great. The only real description I have was that it was very light coloured more fawn then anything. Sorry for the poor description but if anyone has an idea that would be great.

Regards

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Apart from the House Mouse the only other we have is the Wood mouse (many call it a field mouse but that is wrong). google apodemus sylvaticus for pictures and descriptions.

Nothingcompares

The only vaguely 'mouse like' animals in Ireland that aren't pets or escaped pets are the house mouse, The Wood Mouse, the Bank Vole , the Pygmy Shrew and the Brown rat.

stevensi

I googled both and looking at the pics i reckon it was a wood mouse.

artieanna

there's a few different species of mice, isen't there.???

I can think of two I have come across one with a long pointy snout (whats he called?) and the other is the brown wood mouse...

fryup

artieanna wrote: »

I can think of two I have come across one with a long pointy snout (whats he called?)

a shrew

artieanna

I've heard of a singing mouse, is it the shrew I wonder?

Years ago when the old houses had wide chimmney's these "singing" mice had nests in them and they spooked alot of the old people cause they thought they were ghosts:rolleyes:

Anyone ever hear this....

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

artieanna wrote: »

I've heard of a singing mouse, is it the shrew I wonder?

Years ago when the old houses had wide chimmney's these "singing" mice had nests in them and they spooked alot of the old people cause they thought they were ghosts:rolleyes:

Anyone ever hear this....

Never heard of a singing mouse but just for clarification a Shrew is not a mouse. We have only 2 species of mouse in Ireland.

artieanna

sorry about that srameen and thanks for the correction...

cheez they look awfully like a mouse to me:D:D


Just out of curiosity why are shrews not classified as a mouse?

The house mouse and the wood mouse appear quite similar? yes/no

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

artieanna wrote: »

Just out of curiosity why are shrews not classified as a mouse?

The house mouse and the wood mouse appear quite similar? yes/no

I'll try not to get too technical.
The shrew is a small mammal with an elongated snout, a dense fur of uniform color, small eyes, and five clawed toes on each foot. Its skull, compared to that of rodents, is long and narrow, and it lacks the zygomatic arch on the lateral side characteristic of rodents. The teeth are small, sharp, and commonly dark-tipped. Pigmentation on the tips of the teeth is caused by deposition of iron in the outer enamel. This deposition may increase the teeth's resistance to wear, an obvious advantage for permanent teeth that do not continue to grow in response to wear - unlike rodents.
Shrews may appear similar to mice. but mice have four toes on their front feet, and... look like "mice". :P

The wood mouse can easily be distinguished from the house mouse by its larger ears and eyes. Its warm brown coat cannot generally be confused with the dull greyish coat of the house mouse, although unusual colour variations and the grey fur of the young of both species can make identification more difficult. The wood mouse does not have the distinctive odour associated with the house mouse. Wood mice have soft, smooth fur which is sandy or orange brown on the head and back, yellowish on the flanks and white on the belly. There is usually a small streak of yellow pigmentation in the otherwise white fur of the chest. The tail is almost as long as the body and has a sparse covering of black hairs. The tops of the feet are covered by short white hairs and each toe - four on the front feet and five on the hind - ends in a sharp claw.
Have a look at photos of them side by side and you'll soon get to see the difference.

Nothingcompares

why isn't a dog classified as a cat?