🐁

house mouse

Mus musculus

Least Concern →

Diet

Omnivore

Lifespan

2 years

Length

9 cm

Weight

20 g

Trend

→ Stable

About

Among the most widespread and numerous mammals on Earth, house mice originated in South Asia and have accompanied human civilization across every continent except Antarctica. Weighing just 15–25 g, they are highly adaptable omnivores capable of surviving on minimal food and water. As the world's most commonly used laboratory animal, the house mouse has contributed to virtually every branch of biomedical research. They cause significant agricultural damage globally.

Fun Facts

✨ A mouse's heart beats 600 times per minute.
✨ They can squeeze through gaps as small as 6 mm.

Habitat & Distribution

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 8 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

🏗️ Artificial - Terrestrial

Widely distributed across Africa (9 countries), Asia (13 countries), Europe (41 countries), North America (14 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (12 countries), and South America (10 countries).

🇦🇱 Albania 🇦🇴 Angola 🇦🇷 Argentina 🇦🇺 Australia 🇦🇹 Austria 🇧🇸 Bahamas 🇧🇾 Belarus 🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇴 Bolivia 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇧🇬 Bulgaria 🇨🇻 Cabo Verde 🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇱 Chile 🇨🇳 China 🇨🇴 Colombia 🇭🇷 Croatia 🇨🇺 Cuba 🇨🇾 Cyprus 🇨🇿 Czech Republic 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇩🇲 Dominica 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic 🇪🇨 Ecuador 🇪🇬 Egypt 🇪🇪 Estonia 🇫🇯 Fiji 🇫🇮 Finland 🇫🇷 France 🇩🇪 Germany 🇬🇷 Greece 🇬🇩 Grenada 🇬🇾 Guyana 🇭🇹 Haiti 🇭🇺 Hungary 🇮🇸 Iceland 🇮🇩 Indonesia 🇮🇪 Ireland 🇮🇱 Israel 🇮🇹 Italy 🇯🇲 Jamaica 🇯🇵 Japan 🇯🇴 Jordan 🇰🇮 Kiribati 🇰🇼 Kuwait 🇱🇻 Latvia 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein 🇱🇹 Lithuania 🇱🇺 Luxembourg 🇲🇹 Malta 🇲🇭 Marshall Islands 🇲🇺 Mauritius 🇲🇽 Mexico 🇫🇲 Micronesia 🇲🇩 Moldova 🇲🇨 Monaco 🇲🇳 Mongolia 🇳🇦 Namibia 🇳🇷 Nauru 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🇳🇿 New Zealand 🇲🇰 North Macedonia 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇼 Palau 🇵🇪 Peru 🇵🇱 Poland 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇷🇴 Romania 🇷🇺 Russia 🇰🇳 Saint Kitts and Nevis 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 🇸🇲 San Marino 🇸🇹 Sao Tome and Principe 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 🇷🇸 Serbia 🇸🇨 Seychelles 🇸🇰 Slovakia 🇸🇮 Slovenia 🇸🇧 Solomon Islands 🇿🇦 South Africa 🇪🇸 Spain 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇹🇼 Taiwan 🇹🇴 Tonga 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇻 Tuvalu 🇺🇦 Ukraine 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇺🇸 United States 🇺🇾 Uruguay 🇻🇺 Vanuatu 🇻🇪 Venezuela 🇾🇪 Yemen 🇿🇲 Zambia

Diet & Behavior

🍽️

Omnivore

house mouse is classified as omnivore, adapted to its ecological niche.

Diet

🍽️ Omnivore

Plant ~60% Animal ~40%

Conservation Status

LC Least Concern

Population Trend

→ Stable

Full Taxonomy

Muridae (Mice & Rats)

Genus

Mus (House Mice)

Species

Mus musculus (house mouse)

Names in Other Languages

Spanish Ratón Casero

French souris commune

German Hausmaus

Similar Species in Mus

Little Indian Field Mouse

Western Mediterranean Mouse

Mus spretus

Least Concern

View all species in Mus →

Explore More

Artificial - Terrestrial

Habitat

Compare Species

vs Ceylon Spiny Mouse vs Fawn-colored Mouse vs Little Indian Field Mouse vs Macedonian Mouse

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of house mouse?

The scientific name of house mouse is Mus musculus. It belongs to the genus Mus.

What is the conservation status of house mouse?

house mouse (Mus musculus) is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. The population trend is stable.

Where does house mouse live?

house mouse is found in Widely distributed across Africa (9 countries), Asia (13 countries), Europe (41 countries), North America (14 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (12 countries), and South America (10 countries).. Countries include Albania, Angola, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What family does house mouse belong to?

house mouse (Mus musculus) belongs to the genus Mus, which is part of the taxonomic family Muridae.

What does house mouse eat?

house mouse is omnivore. Its diet is adapted to its natural habitat and ecological niche.

How long does house mouse live?

house mouse has an average lifespan of approximately 2 years in the wild.

Is house mouse endangered?

No, house mouse (Mus musculus) is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, meaning it is not currently at significant risk of extinction.

What kingdom does house mouse belong to?

house mouse (Mus musculus) belongs to the kingdom Animalia (Animals).