Myth: Rats & mice have no Skelton

Let me explain, so there is this old wives tale that rats and mice have no skeleton and they can collapse their skeleton to fit through almost any size opening.

Truth & explanation

This is incorrect on both counts.

Rats and mice are a vertebrate – which is defined as “an animal of a large group distinguished by the possession of a backbone or spinal column, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes”

Rats and mice have skeletons of bone and cartilage just like us, but they have an additional ability to get through small openings which is simply function of their body design and function.

See below image of the skeleton of a rat.

They spend their life tunnelling through burrows and are amazing climbers.

Where this myth comes from, is because of their ability to be able to fit through small holes. Most people would believe that if a mouse or rat could fit through that hole, their bones but collapse or as the myth says – have no Skelton.

However, if a rat is able to poke its nose through an opening to a home or building and determine that it is big enough, it will charge right through.

Mice have the same types of capabilities as rats, and can pass through even smaller sized openings, simply because of their smaller body size.