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mouse is funny ;p
{{Otheruses4|the animal|the computing manipulation device|Mouse (computing)|other uses}}
{{Redirect|Mice}}
{{Distinguish|rat}}

<!-- The following is markup for the mouse taxonomy box; scroll down to get to the body text -->
{{Taxobox
| name =mouse
| fossil_range = Late ] - Recent
| image = Мышь 2.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ], ''Mus musculus''
| regnum = ]ia
| phylum = ]
| classis = ]ia
| ordo = ]ia
| superfamilia = ]
| familia = ]
| subfamilia = ]
| genus = '''''Mus'''''
| genus_authority = ], 1758
| subdivision_ranks = ]
| subdivision = ]
}}

] mouse]]

A ''mouse'' (plural '''mice''') is a small ] belonging to the order of ]s. The best known mouse species is the ] (''Mus musculus''). It is also a popular ]. The American ] (''Peromyscus leucopus'') and the ] ('']'') also sometimes live in houses. In some places, certain kinds of ] are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles. They are known to invade homes for food and occasionally shelter.

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 ]. ]s, wild ]s, ]es, ], ]s and even certain kinds of ]s have been known to prey heavily upon mice. Nevertheless, because of its remarkable adaptability to almost any ], and its ability to live ] with humans, the mouse is regarded to be the second most successful ] genus living on ] today, after humans.

Mice can at times be harmful ]s, damaging and eating ] and spreading ]s through their ]s and ]{{Fact|date=August 2009}}. In western North America, breathing dust that has come in contact with mouse feces has been linked to the deadly ].{{Fact|date=December 2008}}. The original motivation for the domestication of ]s is thought to have been for their predation of mice and their relatives, the ]s.{{Fact|date=December 2008}}

Primarily nocturnal animals, mice compensate for their poor eyesight with a keen sense of hearing, and rely especially on their sense of smell to locate food and avoid predators.<ref></ref>

== Reproduction ==
]
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 ] 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 />

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 ]. 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 ].<ref name=lvma/>

The average gestation period is 20 days. A fertile postpartum estrus occurs 14–24 hours following ], and simultaneous lactation and gestation prolongs gestation 3–10 days owing to delayed implantation. The average ] size is 10-12 during optimum production, but is highly strain dependent. As a general rule, ] 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/>

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 ]s and comparing ]s.<ref name=lvma/>

== Laboratory mice ==
{{Main|Laboratory mice}}
]]]

Mice are common ]al animals in ] and ] primarily because they are mammals, and also because they share a high degree of ] with humans. They are the most commonly used ]ian ], more common than ]. The mouse ] has been sequenced, and virtually all mouse ]s have human homologs. They can also be manipulated in ways that would be considered unethical to do with humans (note ]). A ''']''' is a ] ] that has had one or more of its genes made inoperable through a ].

There are other reasons for why mice are used in laboratory research. Mice are small, inexpensive, easily maintained, and can reproduce quickly. Several ]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.

== Species ==
{{Cleanup|list|date=May 2008}}
* Subgenus'' ]''
**'']'' (Western Sumatra)
**'']'' (Sri Lanka)
**'']'' (Northeastern India to southwestern Cambodia and northern Vietnam)
**'']'' (Western Java)
*Subgenus '']''
**'']'' (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, southern Nepal, central Myanmar)
**'']'' (Ryukyu islands, Taiwan and southern China to Thailand; introduced in Malaysia and western Indonesia)
**'']'' (Northern India to Vietnam; introduced to Sumatra and Java)
**'']'' (Southern and northeastern India and Nepal to Vietnam)
**'']'' (Cyprus)
**'']'' (Athens, Greece)
**'']'' (Southwestern India)
**'']'' (Thailand and Laos)
**'']'' (Balkans to Israel and Iran)
**'']'' (introduced worldwide)
**'']'' (Central Myanmar)
**'']'' (Austria to southern Ukraine and Greece)
**'']'' (Southern France, Iberian Peninsula, Balearic Islands, Morocco to Tunisia)
**'']'' (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan; introduced to Sumatra)
*Subgenus '']''
**'']'' (Ivory Coast to Guinea)
**'']'' (Mountains of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and neighboring parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo)
**'']'' (Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo)
**'']'' (Central African Republic)
**'']'' (Senegal to northern Nigeria)
**'']'' (Southern Angola to western Zimbabwe and northern South Africa)
**'']'' (Ethiopia, southwestern Uganda and southwestern Kenya)
**'']'' (Ghana)
**'']'' (Zimbabwe, Southern Mozambique, South Africa)
**'']'' (Africa south of the Sahara, excluding the range of ''M. minutoides'')
**'']'' (Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to northeastern South Africa)
**'']'' (South Africa)
**'']'' (Central African Republic)
**'']'' (Senegal to Ethiopia and western Kenya)
**'']'' (Northeastern Namibia, Botswana, and western Zambia)
**'']'' (Colombia, Argentina)
**'']'' (Eastern Cameroon to western Tanzania)
**'']'' (Sudan to southern Somalia and central Tanzania)
**'']'' (Southern Ethiopia to central Angola and Malawi)
*Subgenus '']''
**'']'' (Sri Lanka)
**'']'' (Southwestern India)
**'']'' (India)
**'']'' (Southern Pakistan, southern Nepal, and India)
**'']'' (Myanmar to southwestern Cambodia and northwestern Vietnam)

== As pets ==
{{Main|Fancy mouse}}
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:
* ] - Usually a ] or ] ], but special mouse cages are now available.
* ] - Special pelleted and seed-based food is available. Mice can generally eat most rodent food (for rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, etc)
* ] - Usually made of hardwood pulp, such as ], sometimes from shredded, un]ed ] or recycled virgin ]. Using ] bedding is avoided because it promotes ''Aspergillis'' ], and can grow ] once it gets wet which is rough on their feet. Mice should not be exposed to pine or other scented tree chips as many studies show these to have adverse effects on lung function in mice.{{Fact|date=June 2009}}

]
Some benefits of having mice as pets are
* Minimal shedding and allergens
* Entertaining and interactive
* Inexpensive
* Clean (contrary to popular belief)
* Socially self-sufficient when in a group of other mice
* Less likely to bite than other rodent pets
* Relatively intelligent
* Bond well to their owners
* Are playful and attentive

Disadvantages include:
* Short lifespan
* Small and fragile (not as easy to handle as a dog or a cat)
* Defecate and urinate frequently
* Nocturnal
* Frequent eye infections when under stress
* Easily subject to disease when without optimal care
* Frequent reproduction

== Nutrition ==
In nature, mice are ]s, consuming any kind of fruit or grain from plants.<ref name=ecodome></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></ref>

== As food ==
{{redirect|Pinkies||Pinkie}}
] food]]
Humans have eaten mice since ] times. They are still eaten as a delicacy throughout eastern ] and northern ],<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 ]. In most other countries, mice are no longer routinely consumed by humans. Across the U.S. pet owners feed mice to exotic pets such as ], ], ], ] and ]. Most US pet stores now carry mice for this purpose. Because they ] 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 ].
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. In 2007 In the UK feeding mice was banned as the RSPCA claimed it causes stress and inflicts pain on the animal. 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}}. The RSPCA also claimed it was bad for the predator to eat alive mice as they contain too much fat which can cause the predator diseases. So the citizens of the UK must feed their animal with frozen mice and rats.
Common terms used to refer to different age/size mice when sold for petfood are "pinkies", "fuzzies", "crawlers", "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 ]s (see ]).

== Mice in popular culture ==
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 (and or Gorgonzola) cheese from the pantries of its occupants.
Mice also appear in many of the ] books as heroes.

== See also ==
{{Wiktionary}}
{{wikiquote|Mice}}
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*] (fear of mice)
*]
*]

== Notes ==
{{Commons|Mus}}
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{wikispecies|Mus}}
* : extensive information about breeding mice and keeping them as pets
*
* (with focus on their use in genetics studies)
* : How to identify mouse tracks

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Revision as of 13:26, 13 September 2009

mouse is funny ;p