- · Grid units represent actual meters (m); human and animals are drawn to the exact same scale with original silhouette aspect ratios preserved.
- · When a size range is recorded (e.g. 1–1.6m), the lower bound is used for scale comparison.
- · Long-tailed Birch Mouse: Drawn using our own body-shape diagram where an open-licensed silhouette was unavailable.
- · Human silhouette: PhyloPic — NASA · Public Domain Mark 1.0
Long-tailed Birch Mouse
Sicista caudata (Long-tailed Birch Mouse · Long-tailed Birch Mouse)
💡 Everyday Comparisons for Size, Mass & Speed
- 💡 Its maximum weight of 9.3 g is slightly heavier than a single Korean 500-won coin (about 7.7 g), and its head-and-body length of 7 cm without the tail is shorter than the long side of a credit card (about 8.6 cm) (Comparison).
- 💡 Not very agile in movement, it runs as if jumping with its hind feet and tail and climbs trees well.
Reference standards: coach bus ~12 m, mid-size car ~4.9 m, compact car ~1 t, basketball hoop 3.05 m, credit card 8.56 cm.
Site-computed relative index from recorded values; not a formal scientific metric.
📖 1. Overview
The Long-tailed Birch Mouse is a tiny, long-tailed rodent that lives in wetlands such as riverbanks and wet meadows.
🦴 2. Anatomy & Morphology
Its tail is about 1.5 times its body length and wraps around twigs to keep balance. Its back is yellowish brown from the forehead to the base of the tail, with slightly dark-brown hair tips and grayish-black hair bases.
🔍 3. Ecology & Behavior
It eats grass seeds, tender stems, and insects. Active mainly at night, unlike other mice it runs with jumping bounds using its hind feet and tail, and it hibernates in winter.
🇰🇷 4. Connection to Korea
It is listed as "Ginkkorikkomajwi" (Korean name) on the National List of Species of Korea and is distributed in northern Korea, northeastern China, and the Russian Primorye region.
📚 Sources & References
- • IUCN Red List LC (2025) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/20187/279086628
- • IUCN Red List category LC — latest assessment at iucnredlist.org
- • mammaldiversity.org — 1002000
- • iucnredlist.org — 279086628
- • 국가생물종목록(국립생물자원관) ktsn 120000053444 — https://species.nibr.go.kr/home/mainHome.do?cont_link=009&subMenu=009002&contCd=009002&ktsn=120000053444
- • wikidata.org — Q2690391
- • species.nibr.go.kr — mainHome.do
Recorded dimensions are widely cited representative estimates from public literature and may vary by study or specimen.