Which animal resembles a rat but has no tail? - briefly
«Shrew» is a small, mouse‑like mammal that lacks a visible tail, often mistaken for a tailless rat. It belongs to the order Eulipotyphla, not to Rodentia.
Which animal resembles a rat but has no tail? - in detail
The animal most commonly identified as resembling a rat yet lacking a visible tail is the shrew. Belonging to the order Eulipotyphla, shrews are small insectivorous mammals with elongated bodies, pointed snouts, and dense fur that give them a rat‑like silhouette. Their tail, when present, is extremely short, often concealed beneath the fur, making it appear absent.
Key characteristics include:
- Body length ranging from 4 cm to 12 cm, comparable to that of a typical rat.
- Weight between 2 g and 20 g, considerably lighter than most rodents.
- High metabolic rate requiring frequent feeding on insects, worms, and small vertebrates.
- Presence of sharp, spike‑like teeth adapted for crushing exoskeletons.
- Sensory whiskers and keen hearing compensating for limited vision.
Habitat preferences span temperate forests, grasslands, and wetlands, where moist soil supports abundant prey. Shrews construct shallow burrows or occupy leaf litter, avoiding open ground where predators are prevalent. Their reproductive cycle produces multiple litters per year, each containing 2–10 offspring that mature rapidly due to the species’ fast metabolism.
Distinguishing features from true rats (family Muridae) are:
- Tail length: rats possess a long, often hairless tail equal to or exceeding body length; shrews exhibit a vestigial tail rarely exceeding a few millimeters.
- Dental formula: rats have continuously growing incisors; shrews have a set of 18–32 teeth without gnawing incisors.
- Dietary habits: rats are omnivorous and opportunistic; shrews are obligate insectivores.
- Skeletal structure: shrews display a more compact skull with a pronounced rostrum, whereas rats have a broader cranial cavity.
The term “mouse‑like” may also apply to certain gerbil species, yet all gerbils retain a noticeable tail, disqualifying them from the description. Consequently, the shrew remains the principal taxon that matches the criteria of a rat‑shaped mammal devoid of an evident tail.