House mouse

House mouse
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Muridae
Subfamily:	Murinae
Genus:	Mus
Species:	M. musculus
Binomial name
Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758

House Mouse (Mus musculus) the common mouse is one of the most numerous species of the genus Mus. Very often, it is just called a mouse. It is a small mammal and a rodent. In most parts of the world, they live very close to humans. Laboratory mice are types of House Mice and are some of the most important organisms used for research in biology and medicine; they are the most commonly used laboratory mammal for experiments.

Description

Notch in upper front teeth

A small, scaly-tailed mouse with a distinct notch in the cutting surface of upper incisors (seen best in side view); hair short; ears moderately large and naked; upperparts ochraceous, suffused with black; belly buffy white, or buffy, usually without speckling and with slaty underfur; yellowish flank line usually present; tail brownish with black tip, not distinctly bicolor, but paler on underside; ears pale brown, feet drab or buffy, tips of toes white. Mammae in four or five pairs. External measurements average: total length, 169 mm; tail, 93 mm; hind foot, 18 mm. Weight of adults, 17-25 g.

Habitat

Although not native to North America the house mouse, since its early accidental introduction at most of our seaport towns, has become widespread throughout the United States and occurs either as a commensal or feral animal in practically all parts of the United States. As commensal animals, house mice live in close association with man — in his houses, outbuildings, stores, and other structures. Where conditions permit, feral mice may be found in fields, along watercourses, and in other places where vegetation is dense enough to afford concealment. They tend to hide in the winter as the climate is too cold to naturally survive in. They will usually stay in cool dark places like garden sheds. They will only stay up until the summer where they will find a new place to live.