What does a newborn field mouse look like? - briefly
A newborn field mouse is hairless, pink‑skinned, with its eyes closed and ears folded against its head, measuring about 1–2 cm in length and weighing under a gram. It depends completely on its mother for warmth and nourishment during the first week.
What does a newborn field mouse look like? - in detail
A newborn field mouse is extremely small, typically weighing 0.5–1 g and measuring 2–3 cm from nose to the base of the tail. The body is covered with a thin layer of soft, pale lanugo that appears almost translucent; the fur lacks the darker brown or gray tones seen in adults. Eyes remain sealed shut, rendering the animal blind at birth. Ear pinnae are flat against the head and not yet visible as separate structures. The tail is proportionally short, often less than half the body length, and sparsely haired. Limbs are proportionally long relative to the torso, with forelimbs bearing undeveloped claws and hind limbs slightly larger to support early crawling motions.
Key physical characteristics:
- Weight: 0.5–1 g
- Body length: 2–3 cm (nose to base of tail)
- Fur: Pale, fine lanugo, nearly colorless
- Eyes: Closed, non‑functional
- Ears: Flat, concealed under fur
- Tail: Short, sparsely haired, <50 % of body length
- Limbs: Long, with underdeveloped claws; hind limbs slightly more robust
These traits collectively define the appearance of a field mouse in its first days of life, prior to the development of pigmentation, open eyes, and adult fur texture.