What does a Dumbo rat look like? - briefly
A Dumbo rat is a laboratory mouse strain distinguished by oversized, low‑set ears that flare outward like an elephant’s, and a compact, pale‑colored body. Its eyes are widely spaced and the tail is notably short.
What does a Dumbo rat look like? - in detail
The Dumbo rat is distinguished by a set of pronounced physical traits that set it apart from standard laboratory strains.
Its most striking feature is the enlarged, low‑set ears that extend laterally from the head, resembling the ears of Disney’s eponymous elephant. The ear pinnae are typically 1.5–2 cm in length, with a thin, semi‑transparent skin covering a well‑vascularized cartilage framework. The ears rest on a flattened cranial region, giving the skull a broader appearance.
The coat is dense and short, ranging from albino white to light gray, with occasional patches of darker fur on the dorsal surface. Hair follicles are evenly distributed, producing a uniform texture that feels soft to the touch. The dorsal fur may display a subtle sheen due to the lack of pigment in many specimens.
Facial characteristics include:
- Small, rounded eyes positioned laterally, providing a wide field of vision.
- A short, blunt snout with a slightly upturned tip.
- Vibrissae (whiskers) that are long and stiff, extending forward from the rostral region.
The tail is slender, measuring approximately 12–15 cm, and tapers gradually toward the tip. It is covered with fine, sparse hair and exhibits a slight curvature, facilitating balance during locomotion.
Limbs are proportionally short, with forepaws possessing five digits and hind paws four digits, each ending in blunt, ungual pads. The pads are thickened, providing traction on various substrates.
Overall body length, from nose to tail base, averages 20–25 cm, with a weight range of 250–350 g for adult individuals. The combination of oversized lateral ears, a compact skull, and a soft, uniformly colored coat defines the visual profile of this rat variant.