Who squeaks – a mouse or a rat? - briefly
Mice emit the characteristic high‑pitched squeak, while rats produce lower‑frequency chirps and squeals. Therefore, the familiar squeak is generally produced by a mouse.
Who squeaks – a mouse or a rat? - in detail
Mice emit high‑frequency squeaks that are short, sharp, and often audible to humans when the animal is startled or communicating with conspecifics. The vocalization typically ranges from 5 to 10 kHz and can be produced rapidly in series during social interactions.
Rats also produce squeaks, but their calls are lower in pitch, generally between 2 and 5 kHz, and are longer in duration. Rat squeaks are frequently associated with distress, aggression, or territorial displays and may be accompanied by ultrasonic components beyond human hearing.
Key distinctions:
- Frequency range: mice ≈ 5‑10 kHz; rats ≈ 2‑5 kHz.
- Duration: mouse squeaks are brief (tens of milliseconds); rat squeaks last longer (up to several hundred milliseconds).
- Context: mice squeak during exploratory or mating behavior; rats squeak mainly in threat or dominance situations.
- Anatomy: both species use the larynx, but rat vocal folds are larger, producing the lower‑frequency sounds.
Therefore, both species are capable of squeaking, but the acoustic profile and behavioral triggers differ markedly between the two rodents.