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{{About|the animal|the computing input device|Mouse (computing)|other uses}}{{For|MICE|MICE}} |
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<!-- The following is markup for the mouse taxonomy box; scroll down to get to the body text --> |
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{{Taxobox |
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| name =mouse |
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| fossil_range = Late [[Miocene]] - Recent |
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| image = Мышь 2.jpg |
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| image_width = 250px |
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| image_caption = [[House Mouse]], ''Mus musculus'' |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Chordata]] |
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| classis = [[Mammal]]ia |
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| ordo = [[Rodent]]ia |
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| superfamilia = [[Muroidea]] |
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| familia = [[Muridae]] |
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| subfamilia = [[Murinae]] |
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| genus = '''''Mus''''' |
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| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1758 |
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| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]] |
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| subdivision = [[Mouse#Species|30 known species]]<br /> |
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}} |
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[[Image:Mouse vermin02.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Feral]] mouse]] |
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A '''mouse''' (plural '''mice''') is a small [[mammal]] belonging to the order of [[rodent]]s. The best known mouse species is the [[House Mouse|common house mouse]] (''Mus musculus''). It is also a popular [[pet]]. The American [[white-footed mouse]] (''Peromyscus leucopus'') and the [[deer mouse]] (''[[Peromyscus maniculatus]]'') also sometimes live in houses. Another common mouse is the [[field mouse]]. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles. They are known to invade homes for food and occasionally shelter. |
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Although mice may live up to two and a half years in captivity, the average mouse in the wild lives only about four months,{{Fact|date=December 2008}} primarily owing to heavy [[predation]]. [[Cat]]s, wild [[dog]]s, [[fox]]es, [[bird of prey|birds of prey]], [[snake]]s and even certain kinds of [[insect]]s have been known to prey heavily upon mice. Nevertheless, because of its remarkable adaptability to almost any [[ecological niche|environment]], and its ability to live [[commensalism|commensally]] with humans, the mouse is regarded to be the second most successful [[mammalian]] genus living on Earth today, after humans. |
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Mice can at times be harmful [[rodent]], damaging and eating [[Crop (agriculture)|crops]] and spreading [[disease]]s through their [[parasite]]s and [[feces]]. In western North America, breathing dust that has come in contact with mouse feces has been linked to the deadly [[hantavirus]].{{Fact|date=December 2008}}. The original motivation for the domestication of [[cat]]s is thought to have been for their predation of mice and their relatives, the rats.{{Fact|date=December 2008}} |
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== Distribution and habitat == |
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All species of ''Mus'' are native to [[Eurasia]] and [[Africa]], where they range from lowlands to mountaintops. The five species in the subgenus ''Pyromys'' are found in [[Sri Lanka]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]], and mainland [[Southeast Asia]]. Much of their range originally consisted of open [[grasslands]] or grassy patches in [[forests]]. |
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== Reproduction == |
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[[Image:Baby mice.jpg|right|thumb|Pups that are just a day old]] |
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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.<ref name=lvma /> |
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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 [[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]].<ref name=lvma/> |
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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 (animal)|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 {{convert|0.5|-|1.5|g|abbr=on}} 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 {{convert|10|-|12|g|abbr=on}}. If the postpartum estrus is not utilized, the female resumes cycling 2-5 days postweaning.<ref name=lvma/> |
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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 of [[littermate]]s and comparing [[perineum]]s.<ref name=lvma/> |
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== Laboratory mice == |
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{{main|Laboratory mice}} |
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[[Image:PCWmice1.jpg|thumb|[[Knockout mice]]]] |
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Mice are common [[experiment]]al animals in [[biology]] and [[psychology]] primarily because they are mammals, and also because they share a high degree of [[homology (biology)|homology]] with humans. They are the most commonly used [[mammal]]ian [[model organism]], more common than [[rats]]. The mouse [[genome]] has been sequenced, and virtually all mouse [[gene]]s have human homologs. They can also be manipulated in ways that would be considered unethical to do with humans (note [[Animal Rights]]). A '''[[knockout mouse]]''' is a [[genetic engineering|genetically engineered]] [[mus musculus|mouse]] that has had one or more of its genes made inoperable through a [[gene knockout]]. |
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There are other reasons for why mice are used in laboratory research. Mice are small, inexpensive, easily maintained, and can reproduce quickly. Several [[generation]]s of mice can be observed in a relatively short period of 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, just different proportions. |
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== Species == |
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{{Cleanup|list|date=May 2008}} |
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* Subgenus'' [[Coelomys]]'' |
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**''[[Mus crociduroides]]'' (Western Sumatra) |
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**''[[Mus mayori]]'' (Sri Lanka) |
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**''[[Mus pahari]]'' (Northeastern India to southwestern Cambodia and northern Vietnam) |
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**''[[Mus vulcani]]'' (Western Java) |
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*Subgenus ''[[Mus (subgenus)|Mus]]'' |
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**''[[Mus booduga]]'' (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, southern Nepal, central Myanmar) |
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**''[[Mus caroli]]'' (Ryukyu islands, Taiwan and southern China to Thailand; introduced in Malaysia and western Indonesia) |
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**''[[Mus cervicolor]]'' (Northern India to Vietnam; introduced to Sumatra and Java) |
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**''[[Mus cookii]]'' (Southern and northeastern India and Nepal to Vietnam) |
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**''[[Mus cypriacus]]'' (Cyprus) |
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**''[[Mus majorius]]'' (Athens, Greece) |
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**''[[Mus famulus]]'' (Southwestern India) |
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**''[[Mus fragilicauda]]'' (Thailand and Laos) |
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**''[[Mus macedonicus]]'' (Balkans to Israel and Iran) |
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**''[[Mus musculus]]'' (introduced worldwide) |
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**''[[Mus nitidulus]]'' (Central Myanmar) |
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**''[[Mus spicilegus]]'' (Austria to southern Ukraine and Greece) |
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**''[[Mus spretus]]'' (Southern France, Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands, Morocco to Tunisia) |
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**''[[Mus terricolor]]'' (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan; introduced to Sumatra) |
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*Subgenus ''[[Nannomys]]'' |
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**''[[Mus baoulei]]'' (Ivory Coast to Guinea) |
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**''[[Mus bufo]]'' (Mountains of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and neighboring parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo) |
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**''[[Mus callewaerti]]'' (Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo) |
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**''[[Mus goundae]]'' (Central African Republic) |
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**''[[Mus haussa]]'' (Senegal to northern Nigeria) |
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**''[[Mus indutus]]'' (Southern Angola to western Zimbabwe and northern South Africa) |
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**''[[Mus mahomet]]'' (Ethiopia, southwestern Uganda and southwestern Kenya) |
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**''[[Mus mattheyi]]'' (Ghana) |
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**''[[Mus minutoides]]'' (Zimbabwe, Southern Mozambique, South Africa) |
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**''[[Mus musculoides]]'' (Africa south of the Sahara, excluding the range of ''M. minutoides'') |
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**''[[Mus neavei]]'' (Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to northeastern South Africa) |
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**''[[Mus orangiae]]'' (South Africa) |
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**''[[Mus oubanguii]]'' (Central African Republic) |
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**''[[Mus setulosus]]'' (Senegal to Ethiopia and western Kenya) |
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**''[[Mus setzeri]]'' (Northeastern Namibia, Botswana, and western Zambia) |
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**''[[Mus siridandus]]'' (Colombia, Argentina) |
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**''[[Mus sorella]]'' (Eastern Cameroon to western Tanzania) |
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**''[[Mus tenellus]]'' (Sudan to southern Somalia and central Tanzania) |
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**''[[Mus triton]]'' (Southern Ethiopia to central Angola and Malawi) |
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*Subgenus ''[[Pyromys]]'' |
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**''[[Mus fernandoni]]'' (Sri Lanka) |
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**''[[Mus phillipsi]]'' (Southwestern India) |
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**''[[Mus platythrix]]'' (India) |
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**''[[Mus saxicola]]'' (Southern Pakistan, southern Nepal, and India) |
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**''[[Mus shortridgei]]'' (Myanmar to southwestern Cambodia and northwestern Vietnam) |
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== As pets == |
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{{main|Fancy mouse}} |
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Many people buy mice as companion pets. They can be playful, loving and can grow used to being handled. Pet mice should not be left unsupervised outside as they have many natural predators, including (but not limited to) birds, cats and dogs. Male mice tend to have a stronger odor than the females. Well looked after mice can make ideal pets. Some common mouse care products are: |
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* [[Fancy mouse#Caging|Cage]] - Usually a [[hamster]] or [[gerbil]] [[cage]], but special mouse cages are now available. |
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* [[mouse food|Food]] - Special pelleted and seed-based food is available. Mice can generally eat most rodent food (for rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, etc) |
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* [[Pet bedding|Bedding]] - Usually made of hardwood pulp, such as [[aspen]], sometimes from shredded, un[[ink]]ed [[paper]] or recycled virgin [[wood pulp]]. [[Corn husk]] bedding should not be used because it promotes ''Aspergillis'' [[fungus]], and can grow [[mold]] once it gets wet which is rough on their feet. |
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[[Image:100 0726.JPG|thumb|250px|Pet mice]] |
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Some benefits of having mice as pets are |
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* Minimal shedding and allergens |
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* Entertaining and interactive |
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* Inexpensive |
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* Clean (contrary to popular belief) |
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* Socially self-sufficient when in a group of other mice |
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* Less likely to bite than other rodent pets |
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* Relatively intelligent |
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* Bond well to their owners |
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* Are playful and attentive |
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Disadvantages include: |
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* Short lifespan |
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* Small and fragile (not as easy to handle as a dog or a cat) |
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* Defecate and urinate frequently |
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* Nocturnal |
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* Frequent eye infections when under stress |
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* Easily subject to disease when without optimal care |
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* Frequent reproduction |
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== Nutrition == |
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In nature, mice are [[herbivore|herbivores]], consuming any kind of fruit or grain from plants.<ref name=ecodome>[http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/MarsSim/SimHTML/organisms/mouse.html Mouse: Northwestern University Ecodome Information Page]</ref> Due to this, mice adapt well to urban areas and are known for eating most all types of food scraps, especially cheese. 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 {{convert|15|g|abbr=on}} per {{convert|100|g|abbr=on}} of body weight per day; water intake is approximately {{convert|15|ml|abbr=on}} per 100 g of body weight per day.<ref name=lvma>[http://www.lvma.org/mouse.html Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association]</ref> |
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== As food == |
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[[Image:Feeder mice.jpg|250px|thumb|"Pinkie" mice for sale as [[reptile]] food]] |
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Humans have eaten mice since [[prehistoric]] times. They are still eaten as a delicacy throughout eastern [[Zambia]] and northern [[Malawi]],<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bridgewater.edu/~mtembo/mbeba.html | title = Mice as a Delicacy: the Significance of Mice in the Diet of the Tumbuka People of Eastern Zambia | first = Mwizenge S. | last = Tembo | accessdate = 2008-08-13 }}</ref> as well as in parts of east Asia.{{Fact|date=August 2008}} They are an excellent seasonal source of [[protein]]. In most other countries, mice are no longer routinely consumed by humans. Across the U.S. pet owners keep exotic pets such as [[snakes]], [[lizards]], [[frogs]], [[tarantulas]] and [[bird of prey|birds of prey]]. Most US pet stores now carry mice for this purpose. Because they [[breed]] quickly, grow quickly, are easy to care for, and can be sold in a wide variety of sizes, this makes them suitable for consumption by animals of various sizes. Mice also seem to be a desirable food item for a very large variety of [[carnivores]]. |
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For ethical reasons it may be considered questionable (and under German law, forbidden) to feed live mice (or any vertebrate for that matter) to carnivores. There is also evidence to suggest that it may also cause the carnivorous animal stress and/or physical harm<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.animalhospitals-usa.com/reptiles/snake_feeding.html | title = Snake feeding: Rodents, Food infections, Feeding Schedule | accessdate = 2009-05-29}}</ref> to kill and consume a live animal, especially if the circumstances are different to those in the wild, for example if there is no cover for the carnivorous animal to utilise. However some carnivorous pet owners claim their pet refuses to eat meals which are not living{{Fact|date=May 2009}}. |
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Common terms used to refer to different age/size mice when sold for petfood are "pinkies", "fuzzies", "hoppers", and "adults"<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.southfloridarodents.com/ | title = South Florida's True Rodent Professionals | accessdate = 2009-05-29}}</ref>. Pinkies 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 of [[rat]]s (see [[Fancy rat]]). |
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== Mice in popular culture == |
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The mice stereotype in popular culture is that of a small, sneaky, creature that hides in the walls of one's home and steals swiss cheese from the pantries of its occupants. |
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Mice also appear in many of the [[Redwall]] books as heroes. |
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== See also == |
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{{Wiktionary}} |
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{{wikiquote|Mice}} |
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*[[Audiograms in mammals]] |
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*[[House mouse]] |
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*[[Mice in fiction]] |
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*[[Mouse trap]] |
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*[[Mouse (computing)]] |
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*[[Musophobia]] (fear of mice) |
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*[[Rat]] |
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*[[Vacanti mouse]] |
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== Notes == |
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{{Commons|Mus}} |
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{{reflist}} |
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== External links == |
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{{wikispecies|Mus}} |
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* [http://www.fancymice.info Fancy Mice]: extensive information about breeding mice and keeping them as pets |
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* [http://brainmaps.org/index.php?p=speciesdata&species=mus-musculus High-resolution images of cross sections of mice brains] |
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* [http://www.worldscibooks.com/lifesci/etextbook/p393/p393_chap1.pdf History of the mouse] (with focus on their use in genetics studies) |
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* [http://northernbushcraft.com/animalTracks/mouse/notes.htm Mouse Tracks]: How to identify mouse tracks |
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<!-- This is not visible without registration and should therefore only be used as source: [http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050718/full/050718-2.html Impact of mice on endangered species] --> |
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[[Category:Mice|*]] |
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[[Category:Muroid rodents]] |
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[[af:Muis]] |
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[[ar:فأر]] |
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[[ay:Achaku]] |
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[[az:Siçan]] |
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[[bn:ইঁদুর]] |
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[[zh-min-nan:Chhí]] |
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[[bs:Miš]] |
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[[bg:Домашни мишки]] |
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[[ca:Ratolí]] |
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[[ceb:Ilaga]] |
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[[cs:Myš]] |
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[[sn:Mbeva]] |
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[[da:Mus]] |
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[[de:Mäuse]] |
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[[et:Hiir]] |
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[[el:Ποντίκι (ζωολογία)]] |
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[[es:Mus (animal)]] |
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[[eo:Muso (besto)]] |
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[[fa:موش]] |
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[[fr:Mus (genre)]] |
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[[ga:Luch]] |
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[[gv:Lugh]] |
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[[gl:Rato]] |
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[[ko:쥐속]] |
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[[hr:Miševi]] |
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[[io:Muso]] |
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[[iu:ᐊᕕᙵᖅ/avinngaq]] |
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[[is:Mús]] |
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[[he:עכבר]] |
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[[lv:Peles]] |
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[[lt:Naminės pelės]] |
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[[ln:Mpóko]] |
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[[ms:Mus]] |
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[[nah:Quimichin]] |
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[[nl:Muis (dier)]] |
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[[no:Mus]] |
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[[oc:Mus]] |
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[[pl:Mysz]] |
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[[pt:Mus]] |
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[[ro:Şoarece]] |
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[[qu:Ukucha]] |
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[[ru:Домовые мыши]] |
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[[sah:Кутуйах]] |
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[[simple:Mouse]] |
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[[sk:Mus (rod)]] |
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[[sr:Миш (животиња)]] |
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[[su:Beurit]] |
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[[fi:Hiiret]] |
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[[sv:Möss]] |
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[[te:చిట్టెలుక]] |
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[[tg:Муш]] |
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[[tr:Fare (hayvan)]] |
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[[uk:Миша]] |
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[[vi:Chuột]] |
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[[yi:מויז]] |
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[[zh:小鼠属]] |
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Revision as of 04:52, 16 June 2009
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