Fun Long-tailed Mouse Facts For Kids

 The lineage of long-tailed mice can be traced back as far as the Pleistocene era. This species is endemic to Tasmania, an island state of Australia. These mammals are typical inhabitants of the rainforest.

Their fossils have been discovered in the mainland of Australia including the eastern region of New South Wales and Victoria. They are nocturnal rodents and can be related to other species including swamp rats.

Primarily omnivores, these mice are considered opportunistic feeders. This species of mice has a crucial role to play in the ecosystem as it enables the distribution of a variety of seeds. The population of this mouse species is believed to be stable.

However due to habitat loss, their geographical distribution range has diminished. These rodents are distinguished for their grayish-brown fur and white belly.

The females are slightly bigger than males, nevertheless, they are not sexually dimorphic. The long-tailed mouse is extremely adaptive particularly when a predator is nearby. They have a unique defense mechanism that enables them to avoid their predators.

Want to learn more about the long-tailed mouse, then keep reading this article as more exciting facts are stated below. If you like this article, then check our other articles on deer mouse and wood mouse and share these incredible facts with everyone.

Long-Tailed Mouse Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a long-tailed mouse?

One of the native species of Australia, the long-tailed mouse is an extant species of mouse that can only be discovered in Tasmania.

What class of animal does a long-tailed mouse belong to?

This mouse belongs to the class Mammalia and the order Rodentia.

How many long-tailed mice are there in the world?

The long-tailed mouse is common and has a stable population but the exact number of these mice present in the world is not listed.

Where does a long-tailed mouse live?

The geographical range of these mice is limited within the territories of Tasmania, an island located 149 mi (240 km) to the south of Australia.

What is a long-tailed mouse's habitat?

These mice can be found in the range from sea level to almost 3937 ft (1200 m). The long-tailed mouse habitat is mainly rainforest or wet forest that receives moderate to high rainfall.

However, it is hard to find these mice in a dry habitat and even in grassland like the wood mouse. These mice can make tunnels and burrows in the ground of shaded habitats. This habitat provides mice with adequate food to thrive on.

Who do long-tailed mice live with?

The long-tailed mouse has been recorded living in logs or burrows made 19.6 in (50 cm) under the ground. However, we do not know who they live with.

How long does a long-tailed mouse live?

The lifespan of the long-tailed mouse can range anywhere between one to one and a half years.

How do they reproduce?

The breeding season of this mouse can range between November to April. The mode of reproduction is copulation.

The gestation period is of approximately 30-34 days after which the females give birth to two to three young mice. The young mouse is left inside a burrow in the ground or a hole in a log by the mother while she searches for food.

The young mouse depends on its mother and there has been no active paternal role documented.

What is their conservation status?

 The population of these mice is stable. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the conservation status of this mouse is of Least Concern. However, other threats may include owls and quolls.

Long-Tailed Mouse Fun Facts

What do long-tailed mice look like?

The long-tailed mouse is found in the rainforest. This mouse has grayish brown fur that covers the upper part of its body, while the lower part has white fur. The long tail of these rodents is its extraordinary feature.

The length of its head and body is approximately 5.1 in (12.7 cm). They have long hind feet and the length of their hind feet is 1 in (2.5 cm). Their long tail has a white tip.

The tail is mainly pointed, lean, and is longer than its head and body. The tail enables this mouse to balance. The long-tailed mouse has a pointed face and large ears.

Their ears are so big that they can cover their ears. Weighing approximately 2.11-2.47 oz (60-70 g), these mice display no sexual dimorphism. The dark eyes are set forward and their nostril is pink.

How cute are they?

These animals are cute because they are small and furry. However, some people are scared at the sight of mice.

How do they communicate?

These are nocturnal animals which implies that they are particularly active during the night and they communicate with each other and search for a mate using the tactile method or by smell.

How big is a long-tailed mouse?

The long-tailed mouse size is approximately 5.1 in (12.7 cm) from head to body. The tail is very long nearly one times longer than their entire body length. These mice are bigger than the dormouse which is 3.7 in (9.3 cm).

How fast can a long-tailed mouse run?

The accurate speed of the long-tailed mouse is not estimated. However, the long-tailed mouse can jump almost 12 in (30 cm).

How much does a long-tailed mouse weigh?

The weight of the long-tailed mouse can range between 2.11-2.47 oz (60-70 g). They weigh more than the wood mouse that is approximately 0.8 oz (24 g).

What are the male and female names of the species?

Males are called bucks while females are known as does.

What would you call a baby long-tailed mouse?

Baby mice are known as pups or pinky. After reproduction, the young mouse is one-third of the size of its mother and is covered in natal fur. The eyes of the pups remain close for 15 days after that they can see. The initial length of the tails is small but then it grows quickly.

Their tail keeps growing until the 75th day. The adult coat appears after the 100th day. The young mouse is dependent on their mothers until 25 days old.

What do they eat?

The long-tailed mouse is known as an opportunistic feeder. Their diet primarily consists of insects or non-insect arthropods. As they are omnivores, they can survive on plant-based food such as subterranean fungi, fruits, plants, grains.

Are they dangerous?

A mouse is acknowledged as the carrier of several diseases for centuries. The long-tailed mouse has ectoparasites that may have an effect on humans as well as on pets. They can spread various ticks, mites, and fleas including Pygiopsylla hoplia, Ixodes tasmani, and Acanthopsylla rothschildi.

Would they make a good pet?

This nocturnal rodent is being widely kept as a pet. They are small, require little space, and feeding them is not tedious as their diet mainly consists of both plant and animal food.

However, this rodent species has an active role to play in the forest. Keeping them in captivity and petting them can threaten their population and hamper the ecological balance. It is better to leave the animals in their natural habitats.

Did you know...

Fossils of the long-tailed mouse have been discovered in Cloggs Cave, Buchan located in eastern Victoria, Australia.

The long-tailed mouse can stand in a bipedal stance when relaxed.

The long-tailed mouse is very fond of raisins as stated by John Gould.

The long-tailed mouse is also known as the Tasmanian pseudo-rat.

How high can long-tailed mice jump?

The order Rodentia consists of numerous species that can jump high. The woodland jumping mouse can jump as high as 9.8 ft (3 m). It has extremely strong feet and a long tail. However, even though the long-tailed mouse has long hind feet and a long tail yet, it can jump approximately 12 in (30 cm) in any direction.

Are long-tailed hopping mice extinct?

The long-tailed hopping mouse that once was a dweller of Australia is now an extinct species. The tail was approximately 6-7 in (15.2-17.7 cm) excluding their body length. The reason for the extinction of this mouse is unspecified.

However, the last specimen was collected in either 1901 or 1902. The reason for extinction is either habitat loss or predation. They are associated with other extant mouse species such as the short-tailed hopping mouse, the Mitchell's hopping mouse, and the great-hopping mouse.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these silky pocket mouse facts or gopher facts for kids.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable little pocket mouse coloring pages.

Main image by Anne Burgess

Second image by Evas-naturfotografie

* We've been unable to source an image of a long-tailed mouse and have used an image of a wood mouse instead. If you are able to provide us with a royalty-free image of a long-tailed mouse, we would be happy to credit you. Please contact us at hello@kidadl.com.