Fancy mouse (Mus musculus) — species profile (taxonomy, origin, lifespan, husbandry basics)
Authoritative first-hand species account (Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan). All bullet facts are verbatim from the cited source and C1-substring verified.
Natural History & Origin
- Their fur ranges in color from light brown
- span is about 2 years in captivity, but individuals have lived for as long as 6 years.
- Range age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Habitat
- as tundra and desert) which they would not be able to occupy independently.
- underground burrows consisting of a complex network of tunnels, several chambers for
- terrestrial non-insect arthropods
Size
- Some individuals spend the summer in fields and
- House mice are from 65 to 95 mm long from the tip of their nose to the end of their
- body, their tails are 60 to 105 mm long.
Lifespan
- it has now been spread throughout the world by humans and lives as a human commensal.
- In the wild, most mice do not live beyond 12-18 months.
- calorie-restricted captive individuals have lived for as long as 5 years.
Behavior & Social Structure
- House mice are generally nocturnal, although some
- is generally considered both territorial and colonial when living commensally with
- Territoriality is not as pronounced in wild conditions, however.
Reproduction
- is characterized by tremendous reproductive potential.
- the year, although wild mice may have a reproductive season extending only from April
- The estrous cycle is 4-6 days long, with estrus lasting less than a
Diet
- In the wild, house mice eat many kinds of plant matter, such as seeds, fleshy roots,
- and meat (carrion) may be taken when available.
- animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently