Roadless Areas
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Mus musculus

Linnaeus, 1766

House Mouse

G5Secure Found in 13 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.106007
Element CodeAMAFF22010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilyMuridae
GenusMus
Other Common Names
Ratón Casero (ES) Souris commune (FR)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Taxonomic Comments
This species comprises several groups that may be species or subspecies; Musser and Carleton (in Wilson and Reeder 2005) recognized them as subspecies and provided an extensive discussion of Mus systematics. Populations in nearly all of the United States descended from the European M. musculus domesticus, but Asian M. m. castaneus may also be present in part of southern California (Musser and Carleton, in Wilson and Reeder 2005).
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-04-04
Change Date1996-11-15
Range Extent Comments
Native to Old World. Spread over the world's continents and islands (except Antarctica) in association with humans (Musser and carleton, in Wilson and Reeder 2005).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Occupies buildings/other structures, as well as natural habitats such as fields, cropland, and (in Hawaii) low elevation forests, beaches, sometimes high elevation forest and scrub (Tomich 1986, Sugihara 1997). In some areas, movement into buildings coincides with the onset of cold weather in late fall. Young are born in a nest that may be communally constructed in a well-concealed site.

Ecology

Lives in colonies. Densities vary greatly. Peak densities reach 750 or more individuals per ha (Lidicker 1966). Peaks in abundance (irruptions) occur late summer-fall in Hawaii (Tomich 1986). Home range is less than an acre.

On western Mauna Kea, Hawaii, Amarasekare (1994) found no evidence that this species preys on eggs, young, or adults of endemic birds.

Reproduction

Breeds throughout the year under mild indoor conditions, breeds seasonally in natural habitats. Gestation lasts 19-21 days (may be longer if female is lactating). Young are weaned in about 18 days. Produces many litters of 3-12 (typically 4-5) young per year. Sexually mature in 5-10 weeks.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodWoodland - HardwoodSavannaGrassland/herbaceousDesertCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchardUrban/edificarian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaNNA
ProvinceRankNative
Nova ScotiaSNANo
ManitobaSNANo
OntarioSNANo
Prince Edward IslandSNANo
LabradorSNANo
QuebecSNANo
AlbertaSNANo
Island of NewfoundlandSNANo
Northwest TerritoriesSNANo
New BrunswickSNANo
SaskatchewanSNANo
British ColumbiaSNANo
Yukon TerritorySNANo
United StatesNNA
ProvinceRankNative
New MexicoSNANo
OklahomaSNANo
ColoradoSNANo
Rhode IslandSNANo
PennsylvaniaSNANo
ArkansasSNANo
Navajo NationSNANo
IndianaSNANo
WashingtonSNANo
MontanaSNANo
MarylandSNANo
OhioSNANo
VirginiaSNANo
OregonSNANo
DelawareSNANo
WyomingSNANo
MassachusettsSNANo
ArizonaSNANo
VermontSNANo
KansasSNANo
New HampshireSNANo
KentuckySNANo
LouisianaSNANo
WisconsinSNANo
New YorkSNANo
MaineSNANo
South DakotaSNANo
District of ColumbiaSNANo
New JerseySNANo
North DakotaSNANo
NevadaSNANo
MinnesotaSNANo
FloridaSNANo
TexasSNANo
South CarolinaSNANo
ConnecticutSNANo
GeorgiaSNANo
UtahSNANo
West VirginiaSNANo
NebraskaSNANo
North CarolinaSNANo
MissouriSNANo
IowaSNANo
IllinoisSNANo
TennesseeSNANo
CaliforniaSNANo
AlabamaSNANo
MississippiSNANo
IdahoSNANo
MichiganSNANo
Roadless Areas (13)
California (2)
AreaForestAcres
Black ButteLos Padres National Forest5,116
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
Nevada (1)
AreaForestAcres
Rose - Davis Mdw.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,361
New Mexico (1)
AreaForestAcres
Nichols ReservoirSanta Fe National Forest1,518
Oregon (1)
AreaForestAcres
HellholeUmatilla National Forest65,679
Utah (8)
AreaForestAcres
418024Uinta National Forest51,699
418025Uinta National Forest32,698
Boulder MountainWasatch-Cache National Forest8,852
Burch CreekWasatch-Cache National Forest6,938
Mahogany RangeWasatch-Cache National Forest11,409
Mt. Logan SouthWasatch-Cache National Forest17,014
Mt. Logan WestWasatch-Cache National Forest5,285
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
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