How many legs do mice have? - briefly
Mice are quadrupeds, possessing four legs. Each leg ends in a small paw with five toes.
How many legs do mice have? - in detail
Mice belong to the order Rodentia, a group of tetrapod mammals characterized by four distinct limbs. Each limb consists of a fore‑ and a hind‑leg, giving a total of four legs per individual. The fore‑limbs are positioned anteriorly, bearing the scapula, humerus, radius, ulna, carpal bones, metacarpals and phalanges; the hind‑limbs are posterior, comprising the pelvis, femur, tibia, fibula, tarsal bones, metatarsals and phalanges.
Typical anatomical features of the legs include:
- Fore‑limb: shoulder joint, elbow joint, wrist joint, five digits (often with a reduced fifth digit).
- Hind‑limb: hip joint, knee joint, ankle joint, five digits (all functional, adapted for digging and climbing).
Developmentally, limb formation follows the conserved vertebrate pattern regulated by Hox gene expression, resulting in the standard quadrupedal arrangement. Genetic mutations or developmental disruptions can produce limb anomalies such as polydactyly (extra digits) or oligodactyly (missing digits), but these cases are rare in natural populations.
Comparative data show that most small rodents share the same four‑leg configuration, with minor variations in digit length and claw morphology adapted to ecological niches. Consequently, the definitive answer to the query is that a typical mouse possesses four legs.