Gallery - Rodents

Rodents

This group comprises about half the worlds living mammals.Dentition highly characteristic-one pair of permanently growing incisors used for gnawing, with enamel confined to the front. No canines, but diastema, where the mouth can be closed off by folds ofskin. Molars usually with complex patterns used in longitudinal or oblique grinding movement.

European Beaver (Castor fiber)

Largest European Rodent.

Bank Vole (Clethrionomys glareolus)

Head and body 85-100mm, tail 40-65mm. Bright chestnut or reddish, yellowish,buff or grey-white. likes scrub, deciduous woodland and hedgerows. Eats a wide range of vegetable matter and some insects.

Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris)

Water Voles favour habitats with lots of thick vegetation.They can both swim and dive very well. In addition, they can close their mouths behind their incisor teeth and are thus able to chew plants while submereged under the water.

Water Vole Signs

Here are some pictures to help identify Water vole Signs.

Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius)

The Dormouse is one of the most distinctive small mammals native to Britian.

Dormouse signs

Here are some images to help you Identify Dormice signs.

Harvest Mouse (Micromys minutus)

head and body 60-75mm, tail 50-70mm. A small rodent with thick,soft fur, brown above with yellowish or russet tone, white below. Tail is partly prehensile and used to assist climbing.

Yellow-necked Field Mouse (Apodemus flavicollis)

head and body 90-120mm, tail 90-135mm. Slightly larger and more brightly coloured than the wood mouse. White below and with the yellow chest spot large and usually extended sideways to form collar.

Wood Mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus)

As it name suggests, the wood mouse is found in woodland, but also in more open country such as arable fields,gardens,scrub and on sand dunes. The wood mouse often sits up on its haunches. when danger threatens wood mice can cover the ground remarkably quickly with long hops. Each jump may be up to 80cms.