What do mouse ears look like? - briefly
Mouse ears are small, round structures covered in fine fur, usually pink or light‑brown in color. The tips are slightly pointed and project from the sides of the head.
What do mouse ears look like? - in detail
Mouse ears are small, rounded structures positioned on the sides of the head, typically covering the external auditory canal. The outer surface, called the pinna, consists of thin cartilage covered by a fine layer of hairless skin. The shape is broadly triangular with a gentle curve, creating a concave interior that funnels sound toward the ear canal.
Key visual characteristics include:
- Size: Length ranges from 5 mm to 12 mm in adult laboratory mice; juvenile specimens are proportionally smaller.
- Shape: The distal tip tapers to a rounded point; the base attaches to the skull at a shallow angle, creating a modest upward tilt.
- Thickness: Cartilage is slender, giving the ear a delicate, semi‑transparent appearance; the central rim may appear slightly darker due to pigmentation.
- Color: Pigmentation varies with strain; common colors are pink (albino), brown, black, or a mixture of patches reflecting the animal’s coat pattern.
- Surface texture: The outer surface is smooth, lacking fur; small blood vessels may be visible as fine red lines, especially in lighter‑pigmented individuals.
- Inner structure: The canal opens at the center of the pinna and is lined with a thin epithelial layer; the canal length is approximately 2–3 mm.
In many mouse strains, the ears lie close to the head, reducing the silhouette and providing protection against injury. The combination of size, shape, and coloration allows rapid identification of species, age, and genetic background in laboratory and field settings.