House mouse

IUCN LEAST CONCERN (LC)

 

Facts about this animal

The house mouse is a relatively small mouse with a head-body lenght of usually less than 10 cm. The tail is of about the same lenght as head and body, or slightly longer (76-95 mm), and the hind foot measures 16-19 mm. The body-weight rarely exceeds 30 g. The head is relatively small and the ears are large, broad and oval in shape. There are 16 teeth - 4 gnawing teeth and 12 molars. The tail has 150 rings.

 

The colour of the common house mouse is light brown to black above and whitish below, often with a buffy wash and tail that is lighter below.

 

There are both commensal and wild forms of the house mouse. The commensal forms often move out from buildings into surrounding fields in the spring and summer and return to the shelter of the buildings in the fall. Commensal house mice are active at any hour (the wild forms seem to be active mainly at night). Their range of movement is very limited and may comprise as few as 15 m².

 

The house mouse is not afraid of water and swims well. Nests are often made in the vicinity of rich food sources and consists of soft shredded material.

 

House mice reproduce at any time of the year, when provided enough food is available, and may have five or more litters a year. After a gestation period of 21 days, the female gives birth to usually blind and naked 5-6 young (in laboratory mice as many as 20!), which are weaned after about 3 weeks. On an average, they live for about 3 months and in the wild never get older than 20 months.

 

House mice are opportunistic feeders, preferring cereals, but taking also all kind of foodstuffs, glue, soap, and other household articles, usually damaging much more than they eat. They catch and eat also insects.

 

 

How this animal should be transported

For air transport, Container Note 81 of the IATA Live Animals Regulations should be followed.

 

Find this animal on ZooLex

 

Photo Copyright by
Milos Andera