What does a water mouse look like? - briefly
A water mouse is a small, semi‑aquatic rodent about 10–15 cm long, with dark, glossy fur, a flattened tail and partially webbed hind feet. Its eyes and ears are small and positioned high on the head to aid swimming.
What does a water mouse look like? - in detail
The water mouse is a small, semi‑aquatic rodent with a body length of 10–12 cm and a tail roughly equal to the body in length. Its weight ranges from 30 to 50 g, giving it a lightweight profile suited for swimming.
Fur is dense, waterproof, and dark brown to black on the dorsal side, providing camouflage among riverbank vegetation. The ventral surface is lighter, typically grayish‑white, and lacks the oily sheen of the back. Fur length is short, with a slightly glossy texture that resists water penetration.
Key physical traits include:
- Feet: Fully webbed toes on all four limbs, each equipped with small, sharp claws for gripping submerged surfaces.
- Tail: Long, laterally flattened, and covered with coarse hairs, functioning as a rudder during propulsion.
- Head: Rounded snout with a pronounced, whiskered muzzle; eyes are small and positioned high on the skull, granting a wide field of vision above water.
- Ears: Reduced, rounded pinnae that close tightly when the animal dives, minimizing water entry.
- Dentition: Strong incisors extending slightly beyond the gums, adapted for gnawing aquatic vegetation and small invertebrates.
Skin pigmentation follows a gradient from dark dorsal fur to a pale underside, a pattern that reduces visibility to predators from both aerial and underwater perspectives. The overall body shape is sleek and elongated, facilitating streamlined movement through water while retaining sufficient agility for terrestrial foraging.