What does the largest mouse look like? - briefly
The biggest mouse species, the African giant pouched mouse, possesses a robust body up to 30 cm in length, a comparably long tail, dense dark fur, and large rounded ears. Its overall size rivals that of a small rabbit, with individuals weighing as much as 1.4 kg.
What does the largest mouse look like? - in detail
The biggest known mouse species belongs to the African genus Mastomys, commonly referred to as the African giant mouse. Individuals of this species reach a head‑body length of 12–15 cm and a tail length of 13–16 cm, with total body mass ranging from 80 g to 120 g.
Key physical traits include:
- Fur: dense, brown‑gray on the dorsal side, transitioning to a paler, almost white ventral surface; occasional faint striping along the back.
- Ears: large, rounded, covered with fine hairs that reduce noise and protect against debris.
- Eyes: prominent, dark, providing sharp visual acuity for low‑light environments.
- Whiskers: long, arranged in multiple rows, serving as tactile sensors for navigation and prey detection.
- Feet: hind feet broad with strong pads and well‑developed claws, enabling agile climbing and burrowing.
- Tail: slender, covered with short scales, slightly darker dorsally, functioning as a counterbalance during rapid movement.
The skeletal structure is robust, with a proportionally longer skull and stronger jaw muscles compared with smaller murid species, allowing consumption of a broader range of food items, including seeds, insects, and small vertebrates. The overall appearance combines a relatively large, muscular body with elongated extremities, giving the animal a distinctive, powerful silhouette among its rodent relatives.