# Mouse (*Mus musculus*)

> The house mouse is a small rodent with large ears, a pointed snout, and a thin tail roughly as long as its body. It is one of the most successful mammals on Earth, living alongside humans almost everywhere, and is a major laboratory animal. House mice weigh only about 12–30 g, breed rapidly year-round, and usually live around a year in the wild.

- **Category:** Mammal
- **Conservation status (IUCN):** Least Concern
- **Range:** Originally from the Indian subcontinent and Central Asia, the house mouse now lives alongside people on every continent except Antarctica.
- **Canonical page:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/mouse/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Scientific classification

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Chordata
- **Class:** Mammalia
- **Order:** Rodentia
- **Family:** Muridae
- **Genus:** Mus

## Facts at a glance

| Attribute | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Scientific name | Mus musculus |
| Diet | Omnivore (mainly seeds and grains) |
| Habitat | Buildings, fields, and grassland worldwide |
| Lifespan | About 1 year wild (2–3 in captivity) |
| Weight | 12–30 g (0.4–1 oz) |
| Top speed | 13 km/h (8 mph) |
| Conservation status | Least Concern (IUCN) |

## Behaviour and senses

House mice are mainly nocturnal and intensely curious, constantly exploring their surroundings while staying close to cover. They have poor eyesight but an excellent sense of smell, hearing that extends into the ultrasonic, and sensitive whiskers that let them feel their way along walls in the dark. They communicate using scent marks and ultrasonic calls that are too high for people to hear.

## Breeding and lifespan

Few mammals breed as fast as the house mouse. A female can produce a litter of around five to eight young every three weeks and can become pregnant again within a day of giving birth, so populations can explode when food and shelter are plentiful. This rapid breeding, combined with a short life, makes the mouse a cornerstone of many food chains.

## Living alongside people

Originally from Asia, the house mouse has followed humans across the entire planet, thriving in homes, farms, warehouses, and fields. It feeds opportunistically on seeds, grains, and almost any human food, and its success as a commensal animal — one that lives with people — has made it both a common pest and the most widely used mammal in scientific and medical research.

## Conservation

The house mouse is listed as Least Concern and is one of the most abundant mammals in the world. Far from being threatened, it is often controlled as a pest because it contaminates stored food and can spread disease. Native wild mice such as the wood mouse share similar habits but live mainly in fields and woodland rather than buildings.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a group of mice called?

A group of mice is called a mischief. A baby mouse is called a pinkie, kitten, or pup, with 'pinkie' referring to a newborn before it grows fur.

### How long do mice live?

House mice usually live about a year in the wild, where predators and harsh conditions are common. In captivity, with food and shelter, pet and laboratory mice often live two to three years.

### What do mice eat?

Mice are omnivores that prefer seeds and grains but will eat almost any human food, along with insects and plant material. They nibble small amounts from many sources rather than eating one large meal.

### How fast do mice breed?

Very fast. A female house mouse can have a litter roughly every three weeks and can mate again within a day of giving birth, so a small number of mice can multiply quickly when conditions are good.

### Can mice see well?

Mice have poor eyesight and are colour-blind, but they make up for it with an excellent sense of smell, sharp ultrasonic hearing, and sensitive whiskers that help them navigate in the dark.

## Sources

- [IUCN Red List — Mus musculus.](https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Mus%20musculus&searchType=species)
- [Animal Diversity Web — Mus musculus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.](https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mus_musculus/)
- [Wikipedia — Mouse.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_mouse)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/mouse/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.