Latin Etymology: Mus ("mouse") musculus ("little mouse")
Adult House Mouse (subspecies M. m. domesticus) at Geddington, Northants - November 2016
Featured Subspecies: Mus musculus domesticusWeight: 40-45g / Length: 12.5-20cm
IUCN Red List: Least Concern
Perhaps of all vertebrates, the single species which has benefited most from humans - historically they are believed to have originated in Asia, but have followed humans to almost every location on earth. They are adaptable omnivores, and given their fast reproductive cycle natural selection can change them quite drastically in a comparatively short amount of generations. They are considered pests as they will damage human property although they are also the species from which domestic mice have descended.
Related Species:
SUBSPECIES: M. m. castaneus, M. m. domesticus, M. m. musculus, M. m. bactrianus, M. m. gentilulus
- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM - A very common resident, particularly in human inhabited areas though proportionately rarely seen
- Seen at various sites including Geddington and numerous locations in London
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