About
Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus). Widely distributed from Eurasia to Japan; in Japan it is found in southern Honshu and southward as well as on islands. Its main habitats are tall grasslands, reedbeds, and agricultural fields; it lives by climbing plant stems. Body length about 4.8–8 cm, weight 4–11 g, making it very small; it wraps its long tail around stems to maintain stability. Diet is diverse, including grass seeds and insects; it efficiently digests plant material by caecal fermentation and coprophagy. It weaves grasses into spherical nests above the ground; breeding occurs from April to October. Distribution is wide and its conservation status is currently of Least Concern, but local declines occur due to loss of grassland habitat.