Mammals · Rodentia · Muridae

House Mouse

Mus musculus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is one of the most widely used model organisms in biomedical research worldwide, central to the study of ageing, genetics and a great many human diseases.

Weight

12 g – 30 g

Size

up to 20 cm

Lifespan

1 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

GrasslandOmnivore Nocturnal Colonial Grassland Mammal

51countries5same family

Fun facts

It is one of the most widely used model organisms in biomedical research worldwide.
It can have as many as 14 litters a year in ideal conditions.
It has colonised practically every continent alongside people.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Practically cosmopolitan: fields, farmland and above all buildings and structures the world over
Birth weight: 1 - 1.25 grams
Size at birth: Naked and blind at birth
Sexual maturity: 5-7 weeks (some individuals from 25 days)
Gestation / incubation: 19-21 days
Litter / clutch size: 3 to 12 young per litter (5-8 most often), up to 5-14 litters a year in ideal conditions
Lifespan in captivity: 2-3 years in captivity (documented record of up to 6 years)

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web; Charles Darwin Foundation; arXiv (State of Brain Emulation Report); Cascade Pest; Terminix; Orkin