TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus/species: Mus musculus

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: it has a dull greyish-brown fur and the tail, which is the same length as the body, It has a
distinctive strong ‘stale’ odor. Length: 6 – 10 cm (2.36 – 4 inches)

IMG_8925 (1)

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Global, origin probably Mediterranean

DIET: House mice are typically active at night eating invertebrates, most human food and more.

IUCN Red List Least Concern (LC)

REMARKS: The House Mouse is partially color blind communicating with squeaks, ultrasonic calls and pheromones.

Predators such as pit vipers, boas and pythons have heat sensing organs which detect infrared wavelengths on their face. This feature that detects heat is used in the dark to detect warm-blooded prey such as mice.

M. musculus is one of the most widely distributed and successful mammals in the world.

References

Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/19826905554/in/album-72157652559028013/

Ron’s wordpress shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1z2

ARKive www.arkive.org/house-mouse/mus-musculus/

California Academy of Sciences Color of Life Exhibit 2015