Which rodent has a tail similar to a rat's tail? - briefly
The house mouse (Mus musculus) has a tail that closely mirrors a rat’s—long, thin, hairless, and scaly. This makes it the rodent with the most comparable tail morphology to that of a rat.
Which rodent has a tail similar to a rat's tail? - in detail
The rodent species whose tail most closely matches the classic rat description—long, naked, scaly, and gradually tapering—is the black rat (Rattus rattus). Its tail length typically equals or exceeds the body length, lacks fur, and displays a uniform, pinkish‑gray coloration, mirroring the morphology of the common brown rat (Rattus norvegicus). Both species share these tail characteristics due to their placement within the genus Rattus.
Other rodents occasionally cited for having rat‑like tails include:
- House mouse (Mus musculus) – tail is covered with sparse hair, shorter relative to body, and less uniformly scaly.
- Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) – tail is long and hairless but thinner and more tapered than a rat’s.
- Deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) – tail is long and lightly furred, not fully naked.
- Vole species (family Cricetidae) – tail is short and often tufted, distinctly different from rat morphology.
Key diagnostic features of a rat‑type tail:
- Length: ≥ body length, sometimes up to 1.2 × body length.
- Surface: Completely hairless, with fine, overlapping scales.
- Shape: Cylindrical, gradually narrowing toward the tip.
- Coloration: Uniform pinkish‑gray to dark gray, lacking distinct dorsal‑ventral shading.
The black rat exhibits all four criteria, making it the primary example of a rodent with a tail identical in form to the typical rat tail.