How many types of mice are there in the UK?
six different species
The UK is home to six different species of mice. Five of these are native, the sixth, the edible dormouse, was introduced to Hertfordshire as an escapee in 1902. Most mice species have a very short life expectancy in the wild – up to a year – with the exception of the dormouse, which can live for up to five years.
What colour are mice UK?
A mature mouse can be distinguished from a young rat by its larger ears and longer tail compared to its body length than the rat. A young rat also has distinctly larger feet and head compared to the body than a mouse. Mice are usually light grey or brown in colour with a lighter shade on their bellies.
Is a dormouse a mouse?
Characteristics. Dormice are small rodents, with body lengths between 6 and 19 cm (2.4 and 7.5 in), and weights between 15 and 180 g (0.53 and 6.35 oz). They are generally mouse-like in appearance, but with furred, rather than scaly, tails. They are largely arboreal, agile, and well adapted to climbing.
What kind of mice are GREY?
House mice are typically dusty gray with cream-colored bellies. Fur color varies from light brown to dark gray depending on the mouse’s location. House mice have four legs and a round shaped body. Their muzzles are pointed, and their ears are large with some hair.
Is it common to have mice in your house UK?
House mice are a part of British wildlife – but when they take up residence with you, they can be a cause for concern. Active all year round, mice are one of the most common pest species in the UK.
Is hazel dormouse a mouse?
The first surprise is that they are not mice at all, although they are rodents. There are two sorts of dormice you might come across – the edible dormouse (Glis glis) and the native dormouse, sometimes called the hazel dormouse and technically known as Muscardinus avellanarius.
What is a brown mouse?
Appearance. The house mouse (Mus musculus) occurs in a range of colors, including brown, which might lead people to call it a brown mouse. Brown mice often are more active at night and feed on a variety of foods, including seeds and insects. Brown mice are good climbers and may be found atop trees or manmade structures …
What is the difference between brown mice and GREY mice?
The most obvious difference between the two mice is in coloration. Deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, tend to be sort of “deer-colored,” a tawny brown which can tend towards gray, while house mice are mostly gray.
What is the difference between a black mouse and a GREY mouse?
A house mouse has fur all over its body and is usually brown or gray, without any other color patches. A black house mouse is less common but not out of the question. Deer mice are two-toned. Their backs and heads are a darker brown or gray, but their underbellies, legs, and feet are either tan or white.
What are the different types of mice in the UK?
A quick guide to types of mice, voles and shrews in the UK. 1 House mouse ( Mus musculus) 2 Field mouse ( Apodemus sylvaticus) 3 Harvest mouse ( Micromys minutus) 4 Yellow-necked mouse ( Apodemus flavicollis) 5 Bank vole ( Myodes glareolus)
What is the smallest mouse in the UK?
Harvest mice are the smallest mouse on our UK mouse list and dwell in fields and grassy areas. Size: by far the smallest mouse in the UK, with a size of approximately 6cm Distinctive features: its small frame, blunt nose and a tail as long as its body
Are yellow necked mice rare in the UK?
Yellow-necked mice are rarer in Britain than the Wood mice. They are mainly restricted to southern England and Wales. The Yellow-necked mouse pre-breeding season population is estimated to be up to 750,000.
What is the scientific name for a house mouse?
UK mice species The field/wood mouse is also known as: Apodemus sylvaticus The house mouse is also known as: Mus musculus The harvest mouse is also known as: Micromys minutus