# Eurasian Harvest Mouse (*Micromys minutus*) The Eurasian Harvest Mouse is a tiny, cute mouse that loves to live in fields and grasslands. It's known for its long tail and fluffy fur, making it look very adorable! - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Eurasian Harvest Mouse](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Micromys_minutus_-_British_Wildlife_Centre.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charlie Marshall, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Micromys_minutus_-_British_Wildlife_Centre.jpg) ## Appearance The Eurasian Harvest Mouse is tiny, with soft reddish-brown fur on its back and a white belly. It has a distinctive long, prehensile tail that is almost as long as its body. Its relatively large ears and small, dark eyes stand out on its miniature face. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Muridae - **Genus:** Micromys ## Interesting facts - Super-flexible bodies let them squeeze through incredibly tiny gaps easily. - These tiny acrobats can hang upside down by their tails for several minutes! - They are the smallest rodent in Europe, weighing less than two coins! - They live high in tall grasses, rarely touching the ground. ## Special abilities - **Tail Trapeze:** Eurasian Harvest Mouse has a prehensile tail that helps them grip stems and balance while climbing high on plants. - **Master Weaver:** Eurasian Harvest Mouse can weave intricate, spherical nests from grass and leaves, keeping their babies safe. - **Agile Acorn:** Eurasian Harvest Mouse can climb vertically up slender plant stems, enabling them to reach seeds and berries. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 5-7.5 cm - **Weight:** 0.004-0.01 kg - **Lifespan:** 0.5-2 years - **Speed:** 8 km/h - **Litter Size:** 3-8 - **Gestation:** 17-20 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny mice mostly munch on seeds, grains, and small insects they find in grassy fields. - **Primary Foods:** Grass Seeds, Cereal Grains, Berries, Small Insects, Nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Tawny Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tawny-owl) (*Strix aluco*) — A nocturnal predator that hunts small rodents. - **Eaten by:** Weasel (*Mustela nivalis*) — A slender, agile predator capable of pursuing mice into their nests. - **Eats:** [Wheat](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wheat) (*Triticum aestivum*) — Feeds on the grains, especially in agricultural areas. - **Eats:** Bramble (*Rubus fruticosus*) — Consumes its berries for energy and moisture. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a mouse, it's best to watch from a distance and not touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eurasian Harvest Mouse? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eurasian Harvest Mouse? 5-7.5 cm ### How much does Eurasian Harvest Mouse weigh? 0.004-0.01 kg ### How long does Eurasian Harvest Mouse live? 0.5-2 years ### How fast can Eurasian Harvest Mouse move? 8 km/h ### What does Eurasian Harvest Mouse eat? These tiny mice mostly munch on seeds, grains, and small insects they find in grassy fields. ### Where is Eurasian Harvest Mouse usually found? Grasslands ### How does Eurasian Harvest Mouse hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Tiergarten Falkenstein](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tiergarten-falkenstein) — Sachsen, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Luckenwalde](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-luckenwalde) — Brandenburg, DE · Zoo - [Sera Prefectural Citizens' Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sera-prefectural-citizens-park) — Hiroshima, JP · Park - [Ungok Ramsar Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ungok-ramsar-wetland) — KR · Park - [Aso-Kuju National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aso-kuju-national-park) — Kyushu, JP · Park - [Kitamoto Nature Observation Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kitamoto-nature-observation-park) — Saitama, JP · Park [View all places to see Eurasian Harvest Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eurasian-harvest-mouse) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Eurasian Harvest Mouse: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-harvest-mouse)