Hopping mice are true mice – not marsupials – and are members of the order Rodentia.
This group is part of the 'old world' rodents originally appearing in Australia 4 million to 5 million years ago (unlike the native and introduced rat species in Australia that only arrived about 500,000 years ago).
Depending on the species, hopping mice can grow up to 27cm from top to tail and their tufted tail can be more than half of their body length!
Hopping mice weigh around 35g. Their soft fur coat is grey, fawn or pale orange, with a white underbelly. When not hopping or ‘galloping’, they walk awkwardly on all fours.