When you think of mice, you might imagine small, timid creatures scurrying through fields or hiding in corners. But not all mice fit the mould.
Around the world, scientists have discovered some truly bizarre and remarkable rodents: from the mouse that lives on the roof of the world to one that howls like a wolf, and another that can regrow its own spinal cord, these unusual species prove that mice are far more than just pantry pests.
Here are some of the weirdest mice ever discovered – and the fascinating secrets that set them apart.
- A freakish mole with a star-shaped nose, the world's most poisonous rat and a rainbow-coloured squirrel –meet the weirdest rodents in the world
- What are the differences between rats and mice – and how do you tell them apart?
Weirdest mice in the world
Yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse
The highest living mammal in the world is the altitude-loving Yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse. During an expedition to the high Andes in 2020, a yellow-rumped leaf-eared mouse was found on the summit of Llullaillaco, a 6,739m-high volcano straddling the border of Chile and Argentina, making it the highest-living mammal – that we know about.
They are fairly large mice, weighing around 55g and it is particularly recognisable by its large ears, which are around 27mm long.
Southern grasshopper mouse
Did you know that the Southern grasshopper mouse howls at the moon? When the grasshopper mouse rears up on its hind legs, points its nose to the moon and lets loose an eerie howl, it’s a warning worth heeding.
This mouse is a fierce and bloodthirsty carnivore, dining out on insects, worms, snakes and even scorpions. The function of its unusual howl remains something of a mystery, though it is thought to send a territorial message or signal victory in battle.
African spiny mouse
The stiff guard hairs (similar to a hedgehogs and after which the mouse is named) that run along this small mammal's back definitely make them unusual, but it's not the only weird thing about them. For these African rodents have the ability to regenerate a severed spinal cord, according to a BBC report in 2022. It can also overcome devastating injuries to its skin, heart, kidneys and spinal cord.
Swimming mouse
In December 2024, a team of researchers in the north-west Alto Mayo region of Peru uncovered 27 animals that were previously unknown to science, including a new 'aquatic mouse' that has partially webbed feet and eats aquatic insects.
It belongs to a group of semi-aquatic rodents considered to be among the rarest in the world, with the few species known to exist only spotted a handful of times by scientists.
Hopping mice
Why walk when you can hop? Australia is famous for its hopping kangaroos but did you know it had other species that can hop too? There’s kangaroo rat and six species of hopping mice. These mice have long, narrow strong hind legs that allows them to hop quickly away from danger. In fact they are far better at hopping than walking.
Find out more about Australia's hopping mice