Mouse

A mouse (Mus), plural mice, is a small rodent characteristically having a pointed

Mouse
snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail and a high breeding rate. The
best known mouse species is the common house mouse (Mus musculus). It is also Temporal range: Late Miocene –
a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are locally common. Recent
They are known to invade homes for food and shelter
.

Domestic mice sold as pets often differ substantially in size from the common
house mouse. This is attributable both to breeding and to different conditions in
the wild. The most well known strain, the white lab mouse, has more uniform
traits that are appropriate to its use in research.

The American white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) and the deer mouse House mouse (Mus musculus)
(Peromyscus maniculatus), as well as other common species of mouse-like Scientific classification
rodents around the world, also sometimes live in houses. These, however, are in
Kingdom: Animalia
other genera.
Phylum: Chordata
Cats, wild dogs, foxes, birds of prey, snakes and even certain kinds of arthropods
have been known to prey heavily upon mice. Nevertheless, because of its Class: Mammalia
remarkable adaptability to almost any environment, the mouse is one of the most Order: Rodentia
successful mammalian genera living on Earth today.
Family: Muridae
Mice, in certain contexts, can be considered vermin which are a major source of Subfamily: Murinae
crop damage,[1] causing structural damage and spreading diseases through their
parasites and feces.[2] In North America, breathing dust that has come in contact
Genus: Mus
with mouse excrement has been linked to hantavirus, which may lead to Linnaeus , 1758
hantavirus pulmonary syndrome(HPS). Subgenera
Primarily nocturnal[3][4] animals, mice compensate for their poor eyesight with a
Coelomys
keen sense of hearing, and rely especially on their sense of smell to locate food
and avoid predators.[5] Mus
Nannomys
Mice build long intricate burrows in the wild. These typically have long entrances
and are equipped with escape tunnels or routes. In at least one species, the Pyromys
architectural design of a burrow is a genetic trait.[6] Incertae sedis (6 spp.)

Contents
Reproduction
Laboratory mice
Subgenera, species, and subspecies
As pets
Diet
As food
See also
References
 External links

Reproduction
Breeding onset is at about 50 days of age in both females and males, although
females may have their first estrus at 25–40 days. Mice are polyestrous and breed
year round; ovulation is spontaneous. The duration of the estrous cycle is 4–5 days
and estrus itself lasts about 12 hours, occurring in the evening. Vaginal smears are
useful in timed matings to determine the stage of the estrous cycle. Mating is usually
nocturnal and may be confirmed by the presence of a copulatory plug in the vagina
up to 24 hours post-copulation. The presence of sperm on a vaginal smear is also a
reliable indicator of mating.[7]

Female mice housed together tend to go into anestrus and do not cycle. If exposed to
a male mouse or the pheromones of a male mouse, most of the females will go into
estrus in about 72 hours. This synchronization of the estrous cycle is known as the one-day-old pups
Whitten effect. The exposure of a recently bred mouse to the pheromones of a
strange male mouse may prevent implantation (or pseudopregnancy), a phenomenon
known as the Bruce effect.[7]

The average gestation period is 20 days. A fertile postpartum estrus occurs 14–24 hours following parturition, and simultaneous
lactation and gestation prolongs gestation 3–10 days owing to delayed implantation. The average litter size is 10–12 during optimum
production, but is highly strain-dependent. As a general rule, inbred mice tend to have longer gestation periods and smaller litters
than outbred and hybrid mice. The young are called pups and weigh 0.5–1.5 g (0.018–0.053 oz) at birth, are hairless, and have closed
eyelids and ears. Cannibalism is uncommon, but females should not be disturbed during parturition and for at least 2 days
postpartum. Pups are weaned at 3 weeks of age; weaning weight is 10–12 g (0.35–0.42 oz). If the postpartum estrus is not utilized,
[7]
the female resumes cycling 2–5 days post-weaning.

Newborn male mice are distinguished from newborn females by noting the greater anogenital distance and larger genital papilla in
the male. This is best accomplished by lifting the tails oflittermates and comparing perineums.[7]

Laboratory mice
Mice are common experimental animals in laboratory research of biology and
psychology fields primarily because they are mammals, and also because they share a
high degree of homology with humans. They are the most commonly used mammalian
model organism, more common than rats. The mouse genome has been sequenced, and
virtually all mouse genes have human homologs. The mouse has approximately 2.7
billion base pairs and 20 chromosomes.[8] They can also be manipulated in ways that are Knockout mice
illegal with humans, althoughanimal rights activists often object. Aknockout mouse is a
genetically modified mouse that has had one or more of its genes made inoperable
through a gene knockout.

Reasons for common selection of mice are small size, inexpensive, widely varied diet, easily maintained, and can reproduce quickly.
Several generations of mice can be observed in a relatively short time. Mice are generally very docile if raised from birth and given
sufficient human contact. However, certain strains have been known to be quite temperamental. Mice and rats have the same organs
in the same places, with the difference of size.

Subgenera, species, and subspecies

All members of the genus Mus are referred to as mice. However, the term
mouse can also be applied to species outside of this genus. Mouse often refers
to any small muroid rodent, while rat refers to larger muroid rodents.
Therefore, these terms are nottaxonomically specific.

The following is a list ofMus subgenera, species, and subspecies:[9]

Coelomys

Mus crociduroides (Sumatran shrewlike mouse)

Mus pahari (shrew mouse)
Mus Field mouse of the subgenus Mus.
Mus booduga (little Indian field mouse)
Mus caroli (Ryukyu mouse)
Mus cervicolor (fawn-colored mouse)

Mus cervicolor cervicolor

Mus cervicolor popaeus
Mus cookii (Cook's mouse)
Mus famulus (servant mouse)
Mus fragilicauda
Mus macedonicus (Macedonian mouse)

Mus macedonicus macedonicus

Mus macedonicus spretoides
Mus musculus (house mouse)

Mus musculus albula

Mus musculus bactrianus(southwestern Asian house mouse)
Mus musculus brevirostris
Mus musculus castaneus(southeastern Asian house mouse)
Mus musculus domesticus(western European house mouse)
Mus musculus gansuensis
Mus musculus gentilulus
Mus musculus helgolandicus
Mus musculus homourus
Mus musculus isatissus
Mus musculus molossinus(Japanese wild mouse)
Mus musculus musculus(eastern European house mouse)
Mus musculus wagneri
Mus spicilegus (steppe mouse)
Mus spretus (western wild mouse)
Mus terricolor (Earth-colored mouse)
Mus triton (Gray-bellied mouse)
Nannomys

Mus baoulei (Baoule's mouse)

Mus bufo (toad mouse)
Mus callewaerti (Callewaert's mouse)
Mus emesi
Mus haussa (Hausa mouse)
Mus indutus (desert pygmy mouse)
Mus mahomet (Mahomet mouse)
Mus mattheyi (Matthey's mouse)
Mus minutoides (Southern African pygmy mouse)
Mus musculoides (Temminck's mouse)
Mus neavei (Neave's mouse)
 Mus setulosus (Peter's mouse)
Mus sorella (Thomas's pygmy mouse)
Mus tenellus (delicate mouse)
Pyromys

Mus platythrix (flat-haired mouse)

Mus saxicola (spiny mouse)
Mus shortridgei (Shortridge's mouse)
Incertae sedis

Mus abbotti (Abbott's mouse)

Mus cypriacus (Cypriot mouse)
Mus gratus
Mus lepidoides
Mus nitidulus
Mus poschiavinus

As pets
Many people buy mice as companion pets. They can be playful, loving and can
grow used to being handled. Like pet rats, pet mice should not be left
unsupervised outside as they have many natural predators, including (but not
limited to) birds, snakes, lizards, cats, and dogs. Male mice tend to have a
stronger odor than the females. However, mice are careful groomers and as
pets they never need bathing. Well looked-after mice can make ideal pets.
Some common mouse care products are:

Cage – Usually a hamster or gerbil cage, but a variety of special Pet mice
mouse cages are now available. Most should have a secure
door.[10]
Food – Special pelleted and seed-based food is available. Mice can generally eat most rodent food (for rats, mice,
hamsters, gerbils, etc.)
Bedding – Usually made of hardwood pulp, such asaspen, sometimes from shredded, uninked paper or recycled
virgin wood pulp. Using corn husk bedding is avoided because it promotesAspergillus fungus, and can grow mold
once it gets wet, which is rough on their feet.

Diet
In nature, mice are largely herbivores, consuming any kind of fruit or grain from plants.[11] However, mice adapt well to urban areas
and are known for eating almost all types of food scraps. In captivity, mice are commonly fed commercial pelleted mouse diet. These
diets are nutritionally complete, but they still need a large variety of vegetables. Food intake is approximately 15 g (0.53 oz) per
100 g (3.5 oz) of body weight per day; water intake is approximately 15 ml (0.53 imp fl oz; 0.51 US fl oz) per 100 g of body weight
per day.[7]

As food
Mice are a staple in the diet of many small carnivores. Humans have eaten mice since prehistoric times and still eat them as a
delicacy throughout eastern Zambia and northern Malawi,[12] where they are a seasonal source of protein. Mice are no longer
routinely consumed by humans elsewhere. However, in Victorian Britain, fried mice were still given to children as a folk remedy for
bed-wetting;[13] while Jared Diamond reports creamed mice being used in England as a dietary supplement during W. W. II
rationing.[14]
Prescribed cures in Ancient Egypt included mice as medicine.[15] In Ancient
Egypt, when infants were ill, mice were eaten as treatment by their
mothers.[16][17] It was believed that mouse eating by the mother would help
heal the baby who was ill.[18][19][20][21][22]

In various countries mice are used as food[23] for pets such as snakes, lizards,
frogs, tarantulas and birds of prey, and many pet stores carry mice for this
purpose.

Common terms used to refer to different ages/sizes of mice when sold for pet
food are "pinkies", "fuzzies", "crawlers", "hoppers", and "adults".[24] Pinkies
"Pinkie" mice for sale asreptile food
are newborn mice that have not yet grown fur; fuzzies have some fur but are
not very mobile; hoppers have a full coat of hair and are fully mobile but are
smaller than adult mice. Mice without fur are easier for the animal to consume; however, mice with fur may be more convincing as
animal feed. These terms are also used to refer to the various growth stages ofrats (see Fancy rat).

See also
List of fictional mice and rats
Mousetrap
Musophobia (fear of mice)
Mouse brain development timeline

References
1. Meerburg BG, Singleton GR, Leirs H (2009). "The Y ear of the Rat ends: time to fight hunger!".Pest Manag Sci. 65
(4): 351–2. doi:10.1002/ps.1718 (https://doi.org/10.1002%2Fps.1718). PMID 19206089 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.go
v/pubmed/19206089).
2. Meerburg BG, Singleton GR, Kijlstra A (2009). "Rodent-borne diseases and their risks for public health".
Crit Rev
Microbiol. 35 (3): 221–70. doi:10.1080/10408410902989837(https://doi.org/10.1080%2F10408410902989837) .
PMID 19548807 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19548807).
3. Behney, W. H. (1 January 1936). "Nocturnal Explorations of the Forest Deer-Mouse".
Journal of Mammalogy. 17 (3):
225–230. doi:10.2307/1374418 (https://doi.org/10.2307%2F1374418). JSTOR 1374418 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/
1374418).
4. "The Field Mouse" (http://www.santharia.com/bestiary/field_mouse.htm). Retrieved 15 August 2016.
5. "Mice : The Humane Society of the United States"(http://www.hsus.org/animals_in_research/species_used_in_rese
arch/mouse.html). Retrieved 15 August 2016.
6. Weber, Jesse N.; Peterson, Brant K.; Hoekstra, Hopi E. (17 January 2013). "Discrete genetic modules are
responsible for complex burrow evolution in Peromyscus mice".Nature. 493 (7432): 402–405.
Bibcode:2013Natur.493..402W (http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013Natur .493..402W). doi:10.1038/nature11816 (htt
ps://doi.org/10.1038%2Fnature11816). PMID 23325221 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23325221).
7. "Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association"(https://archive.is/20120803201438/http://www .lvma.org/mouse.html).
Archived from the original (http://www.lvma.org/mouse.html) on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2016.
8. "2002 Release: Draft Sequence of Mouse Genome"(https://www.genome.gov/10002983/2002-release-draft-sequen
ce-of-mouse-genome/). Retrieved 15 August 2016.
9. "Mus (mouse, genus)" (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Undef&id=10088&lv l=3
&srchmode=1&keep=1&unlock). NCBI taxonomy. Bethesda, MD: National Center for Biotechnology Information
.
Retrieved 9 February 2018.
10. Sharon L. Vanderlip (2001). Mice: Everything About History, Care, Nutrition, Handling, and Behavior(https://books.g
oogle.com/books?id=LJ1KIGJsav0C&pg=P A38). Barron's Educational Series. pp. 38–.ISBN 978-0-7641-1812-8.
Retrieved 22 April 2013.
11. "Mouse Info" (http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/MarsSim/SimHTML/organisms/mouse.html). Retrieved
15 August 2016.
12. Tembo, Mwizenge S. "Mice as a Delicacy: the Significance of Mice in the Diet of the umbuka
T People of Eastern
Zambia" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080623091951/http://www .bridgewater.edu/~mtembo/mbeba.html). Archived
from the original (http://www.bridgewater.edu/~mtembo/mbeba.html)on 23 June 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2008.
13. Flora Thompson, Lark Rise to Candleford(Oxford 1949) p. 504
14. J Diamond, The World until Yesterday (Penguin 2012) p. 314
15. "BBC – History – Ancient History in depth: Health Hazards and Cures in Ancient Egypt"
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/histor
y/ancient/egyptians/health_01.shtml). Retrieved 15 August 2016.
16. Hart, George (1 May 2001).What life was like (https://books.google.com/?id=ReNvp-J9z-sC)
. Time Life Books.
p. 40. ISBN 978-0-7370-1007-7.
17. Encyc of Discovery Science and History(https://books.google.com/books?id=xNoZx4mJpwsC)
. Fog City Press. 1
September 2002. p. 320.ISBN 978-1-876778-92-7.
18. "Tour Egypt :: Egypt: A Carefree Childhood inAncient Egypt" (http://www.touregypt.net/historicalessays/lifeinEgypt3.
htm). Retrieved 15 August 2016.
19. Shuter, Jane (2003). The Egyptians (https://books.google.com/books?id=JbwoiQDe_sUC)
. Raintree. p. 10.
ISBN 978-0-7398-6440-1.
20. Fontanel, Béatrice; D'Harcourt, Claire (1997).Babies: history, art, and folklore (https://books.google.com/books?id=U
pLfAAAAMAAJ). Harry N. Abrams. p. 64.
21. Colón, A. R.; Colón, P. A. (1999). Nurturing Children: A History of Pediatrics(https://books.google.com/books?id=i8N
sAAAAMAAJ). Greenwood Press. p. 20.ISBN 978-0-313-31080-5.
22. Blum, Richard H.; Blum, Eva Marie (1970).The Dangerous Hour: The Lore of Crisis and Mystery in Rural Greece(ht
tps://books.google.com/books?id=_IOBAAAAMAAJ) . Scribner. p. 336.
23. Food – Frozen mice & rats(http://www.reptilesinc.com.au/shopshow.toy?animalnid=733911&categorynid=25726)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20091010223121/http://www.reptilesinc.com.au/shopshow.toy?animalnid=733
911&categorynid=25726)10 October 2009 at theWayback Machine., Canberra Exotic Pets / reptilesinc.com.au,
accessed 14 November 2009
24. "South Florida's True Rodent Professionals"(http://www.southfloridarodents.com/). Retrieved 29 May 2009.

External links
Fancy Mice: extensive information about breeding mice and keeping them as pets
High-resolution images of cross sections of mice brains
History of the mouse (with focus on their use in genetics studies)
Mouse tracks: How to identify mouse tracks

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