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Rats can be varied in size but they always have distinctive features that differentiate them from mice. They are characterized by long scaly tails and a heftier build even in their formative years. They grow to become medium sized rodents. Rats can be found in four main categories of the order Rodentia: Rattus, Neotoma, Dipodomys and Bandicota.
Mice are smaller in size compare to rats with rounder ears and a pointed snout. However, like their rodent cousins they are classified under the order Rodentia, genus Mus. Mice can be kept as pets especially the domestic mice which are typical starter pets for many kids who want to have a pet. The white mice are used in labs worldwide for research purposes because they tend to offer researchers ideal testing characteristics.
The similarities
Rats and mice have similar front teeth like most rodents. These teeth are crucial for gnawing on food and even for protection against predators. Rats have one set of teeth throughout their lives and they develop their teeth by eight days old. This is the same for mice but their set develops by ten days old.
Both rodents have issues with their teeth which continuously grow all their lives and need to be filed down regularly. To achieve this, rats and mice in the wild tend to gnaw on wood stumps and other hard surfaces in order to file down these teeth. If they don’t keep their teeth filed they will become too long and prevent the rodents from eating leading to death. This is one of the reasons why rats and mice can chew through plastic, vinyl, wood and even aluminum.
They are both dangerous enough to cause fires because they chew on electrical wiring causing a short circuit that can result on fire.
How to differentiate mice and rats
• The rats have larger poop which is has blunt ends while mice has small pellets that look like rice with protruding tips on each edge. The poop of mice can be as small as 1.2 mm while rats ten to produce larger pellets typically 10 to 20 mm in size.
• The mouse has a long thin tail covered in tiny hairs unlike rats that have a long scaly tail. They also have larger feet and their tails are much thicker.
• The weight of the rat can range from 150 to 300 grams depending on the species and the age of the rat. Mice typically weigh utmost 45 grams depending on the species. The smaller mice can be a mere 12 grams.
• For rats their habitats vary depending on the species. The black rat nests high up and loves human structures because it can make its nest undetected in the attic. Brown rats build their burrows in the ground although they can also be found hidden away in the attic to escape predators. Mice love households and even field mice easily find their way into human structures where there is consistent food supply.