MUS MUSCULUS
House mouse
Description The tail is covered with small scales and sparse hairs. The coat is usually grey-brown on the back, and slightly paler on the underside. The snout is pointed; ears and eyes are relatively large; the upper incisors have a notch at the tip when viewed from the side. Length of head and body 5.4-10.2 cm (2.5-4 in), tail about the same; weight 12-28 g (0.4-1 oz).
Habitat This mouse lives in fields, among bushes, and in woodland, but it is also communal with man, and is thus found in homes and buildings.
Behaviour The house mouse eats anything and everything, but prefers grain and other vegetable matter. It is usually active at night, but will also venture forth during the day. It is an agile little animal; it climbs well and swims fairly well. It lives alone, in large family groups, or in definite colonies. In nature it builds nests of relatively fine fibres from plants and other sources; in buildings it lives in the space between the walls. It reproduces virtually all year round. After about 13-21 days of gestation, the female gives birth to 6 or 7 young which are blind and hair-less; they are weaned at 3-4 weeks.