The Western House Mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) is a small muroid rodent mammal.
The Western House Mouse has a rounded body with short grey-brown to light-brown fur, a pointed nose, large rounded pinkish ears, and a long tail. Its underbelly is light beige. Its nose is pinkish with whiskers. It has pinkish feet.
The laboratory Western House Mouse can be many colours, from white to black to multi-coloured.
It grows to 7-10 centimetres (3-4 inches) long. Its tail measures 5-10 centimetres (2-4 inches) long.
The Western House Mouse is native to western Europe, south-western Asia, America, Africa, and Oceania. It can live in a variety of habitats, particularly in open fields and meadows. The House Mouse also likes locations near human activity.
The Western House Mouse is crepuscular and nocturnal, most active at dawn and dusk, as well as night time. It feeds on plants and seeds. In the winter, in most climates, it will hibernate (sleep) until the warmer months.
It runs on all four feet, and it can sit up on its hind (back legs). It has a good sense of smell.
The female is pregnant for 19-21 days before giving birth to 3-14 live young. A female can have 5-10 litters per year. The young, called pups, are born altricial – blind and without fur. Fur begins to develop at about six days after birth, and their eyes open after about 13 days.
The Western House Mouse lives for about 12 months.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM