What is a mouse with an elongated snout called? - briefly
A rodent possessing a markedly extended snout is commonly called a shrew, specifically an elephant shrew (sengi). It belongs to the order Macroscelidea and is not a true mouse.
What is a mouse with an elongated snout called? - in detail
A rodent possessing a noticeably extended rostrum is commonly identified as a gerbil. Gerbils belong to the subfamily Gerbillinae within the family Muridae and are distinguished from typical mice by several morphological traits:
- Lengthened, narrow snout that facilitates efficient digging and foraging in arid environments.
- Enlarged auditory bullae that enhance hearing of low‑frequency sounds.
- Longer hind limbs relative to body size, supporting rapid bipedal locomotion.
Representative species include the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus), the fat‑tailed gerbil (Pachyuromys duprasi), and the desert gerbil (Gerbillus spp.). These species inhabit deserts, steppes, and semi‑arid regions across Africa and Asia, where their elongated snouts aid in extracting insects and seeds from soil and crevices.
In taxonomic terms, the elongated snout character is a diagnostic feature of the Gerbillinae clade. While some murid rodents, such as certain Peromyscus (deer mice) and Mus species, exhibit modest rostral elongation, the degree observed in gerbils is sufficient to warrant separate subfamily status. Consequently, when a mouse‑like rodent displays a markedly protruding snout, the correct designation is gerbil.