Some people may have difficulty in distinguishing between the various small animals that are kept as pets. Some are easy to identify; others are often confusing. Taking a good look at the animal's tail is helpful in identification, since tails differ markedly.
| Animal |
Tail Length |
Tail Hair Cover |
General
Appearance |
| Gerbil |
Longer than body |
Haired, with tufted end |
|
| Hamster |
Short |
Haired |
|
| Hedgehog |
Very short (about ½ inch) |
Short, sparse fur |
|
| Sugar Glider |
Longer than body; slightly prehensile |
Haired |
|
| Rabbit |
Short |
Haired |
|
| Guinea Pig |
None |
– |
|
| Rat |
Longer than body |
Few fine hairs |
|
| Mouse |
Longer than body |
Few fine hairs |
|
| Chinchilla |
Almost equal to body length; often shaped like a '?' |
Bushy; coarser hair than on body |
|
