Who resembles a rat without a tail? - briefly
A mouse most closely resembles a rat that has lost its tail; the two share comparable body shape, fur texture, and facial features, differing primarily in tail length.
Who resembles a rat without a tail? - in detail
A creature that appears similar to a rodent but lacks a visible tail can be identified among several small mammals. The most direct comparison is with species whose tails are either extremely short or concealed by fur.
The common house mouse (Mus musculus) possesses a tail that is proportionally shorter than that of a typical rat, often giving the impression of a tailless form when observed from certain angles. The field mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) also exhibits a relatively diminutive tail, especially in juvenile stages.
Species in the shrew family present a body shape reminiscent of a rat, yet their tails are either rudimentary or absent. The common shrew (Sorex araneus) has a tail that is less than half the length of its body, creating a silhouette that can be mistaken for a tailless rat.
Voles, particularly the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), display a compact body and a tail that is short and often hidden by dense fur. Their overall morphology aligns closely with that of a rat lacking a tail.
In the desert environment, the pocket mouse (Chaetodipus spp.) features a tail that is stubby and sometimes concealed, resulting in a visual similarity to a tailless rat.
A non‑mammalian example is the eastern newt (Notophthalmus viridescens) during its terrestrial phase. Its elongated body and reduced tail can be superficially likened to a rat without a tail, though taxonomically it belongs to amphibians.
Summarized list of candidates:
- House mouse – short tail, often hidden
- Field mouse – proportionally brief tail
- Common shrew – rudimentary tail
- Meadow vole – compact body, concealed tail
- Pocket mouse – stubby tail
- Eastern newt (terrestrial stage) – reduced tail, similar silhouette
Each of these organisms shares the key visual traits of a rat‑like body combined with a tail that is either extremely short, concealed, or absent, providing a clear answer to the inquiry.