What is the name of a mouse with a long tail and large ears? - briefly
The rodent is known as the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). It is distinguished by an elongated tail and proportionally large ears.
What is the name of a mouse with a long tail and large ears? - in detail
The rodent distinguished by an elongated tail and prominent ears is the gerbil, most commonly the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). It belongs to the family Muridae, subfamily Gerbillinae, and is native to arid regions of Central Asia. Adult gerbils measure 10–12 cm in body length, with tails extending 12–15 cm, often longer than the body. Ears are proportionally large, enhancing heat dissipation and auditory acuity.
Key physical traits include:
- Sparse, soft fur ranging from sandy‑brown to gray, providing camouflage in desert habitats.
- Hind limbs longer than forelimbs, facilitating rapid, bipedal sprinting.
- Cheek pouches for transporting food, a common adaptation among gerbils.
Ecological aspects:
- Inhabit burrow systems up to 2 m deep, creating complex tunnels for temperature regulation and predator avoidance.
- Primarily nocturnal; diet consists of seeds, grains, insects, and occasional vegetation.
- Social structure features small colonies with defined hierarchies, reducing aggression through scent marking.
Reproductive biology:
- Breeding season peaks in spring; gestation lasts approximately 23 days, yielding litters of 4–8 offspring.
- Rapid maturation enables multiple generations per year, supporting population resilience in fluctuating environments.
Laboratory relevance:
- Widely used as a model organism for studies on circadian rhythms, auditory processing, and metabolic disorders due to ease of handling and well‑characterized genome.
Overall, the gerbil’s long tail and sizable ears are integral to its thermoregulation, locomotion, and sensory capabilities, distinguishing it from other small rodents.