Five things you may not have know about rodents

These little creatures, which we have adopted as full-fledged pets, the same as cats and dogs, are much more interesting than seems at first glance. What are the five peculiarities associated with the most numerous order of mammals, which every animal enthusiast should know about? Let's brush up on our knowledge a bit.

Mice and their poor eyesight
Mice are known for their extremely well-developed hearing. This allows them to detect movement from up to twenty meters away. As for their eyesight, it is a slightly different story. Mice are short-sighted and their sharp vision ends past half a metre. Also their colour vision is limited as they are naturally dichromatic - there are only two spectral cone types that are sensitive to blue or green light, and they completely lack the receptors for perceiving red colour. Due to their small black eyes, which are very sensitive to bright daylight, these tiny fluff balls are active mainly at night or they prefer dark nooks and crannies. As you probably know, it is difficult to catch sight of them during the day.

Mice, rats and their memory of an elephant
Do you know why are rats and mice regularly used for various tests and experiments? It is because of their incredible memory. And compared to other animals, they are highly trainable. One of the reasons scientists often use them for their experiments is that they always remember the way to their food. 

No need to drink
How is it possible that mice do not need to drink much? They hydrate through food. Yes, for example, they get water from grains. However, this does not change the fact that, unlike other creatures, they are able to find water almost anywhere. 

Rodents' front teeth - their biggest asset
The absolutely unique feature of rodents are their front teeth. They grow continuously throughout their whole life and because they can grow by up to 15 centimetres a year, rodents regularly grind them. These small mammals keep their two pairs of sharp and strong incisors in a good condition, mainly because they use them not only for eating but also to gnaw through various openings, wood as well as plastic or concrete. Teeth are therefore rodents' most frequently used body part.

Rodent - a sociable creature
Wherever you see one, you can expect many others. There is a simple rule that applies to rodents - they form colonies. They are sociable creatures. Same as bees they also prefer to work in groups and divide work within their colonies. It is rare for an individual to move away from its base. 

Related articles

Why do cats wag their tails?

Have you ever watched your cat and asked yourself what it might be thinking? It sometimes seems that these furry friends enjoy situations in which you don’t know if they love your or want to claw your eyes out. They only sit and watch you from a...

Summer tip! Take your dog for fishing

They say there aren’t many activities as relaxing as fishing. And it’s no longer true that fishing is only for men. When my friend told me she takes her dog for fishing, I was really surprised. And I immediately had to question her about how it...

3 reasons why (not) to cut your dog during summer

Living with dogs is such a natural thing for us dog lovers that we sometimes treat them more like people. We love them, we nurture them but we may sometimes care a bit too much and unintentionally harm our furry friends. Such cases include wrong fur...

Ricochet: Surfing dog hero

Some animals are simply talented for water sports. Already as a puppy, Ricochet grabbed people’s attention for her confidence she jumped into sea waves with. Later on, she became a dog hero helping disabled and a role model for many enthusiasts who...

A dog and a rodent under one roof

Are you considering getting a rodent as your new pet but you are afraid it won’t be doing good with your dog under one roof? Don’t be afraid, dogs and rodents can do great together. It is important to teach your dog from an early age that other animals...