House mouse- a very fertile animal and can reproduce at home all year round, unlike mice living in nature (these breeding peaks are in autumn and spring). In a year, a mouse can bring up to 14 offspring (average - 5-10).
Mice reach puberty quite quickly - 28-50 days after birth, but can fully reproduce at the age of 60-90 days. However, it is important that a female ripe for pregnancy is well developed physically. Otherwise, pregnancy can damage the young mouse, not to mention the high likelihood that very frail or even dead mice will be born.
Sexual cycle
mice - from 2 to 9 days. It is at these intervals that the female enters estrus (heat period), which usually occurs between 22.00 and 1.00 and lasts approximately 12 hours. The estrus phase can be determined by the behavior of the female - she becomes nervous, in the presence of a male she arches her back, lifts back bodies. In turn, males emit ultrasonic calls in the range of 30-110 kHz to attract females. Interestingly, after giving birth, the female again enters estrus within 14-28 hours, during which she can be re-fertilized. During feeding of the newborn offspring, the mouse does not have estrus, but resumes 2-4 days after the pups are separated, that is, about 3-4 weeks after birth.
After fertilization, the female develops a so-called vaginal or inguinal “plug” - an external sign of successful copulation. The “plug” is a mixture of seeds and scales from the inguinal whip; it closes the vagina for 15-24 hours after fertilization, after which it dissolves. The “plug” is a specific evidence of paternity; it is needed to protect the mouse from being fertilized by another male.
Pregnancy
The life of a mouse lasts from 17 to 24 days, during this time (especially active - from the second half of the term) the female gains weight, the body of the mouse is rounded, and the nipples noticeably increase. It is important that during this period the female and male have enough materials to build nests or arranging an artificial house. To do this, there must be enough soft material in the cage (paper, fabric, soft hay). In addition, you need to increase the portion of food for a pregnant mouse: in the first half of pregnancy by a third, in the second - by half.
Childbirth
last approximately 2 hours, usually between 24.00 and 4.00 or 16.00 and 20.00. During contractions, you don’t have to separate the male, as he will help the mouse - straighten the nest, lick the newborns, and cover them. The squeaks of newborns testify to the birth that has taken place; in this regard, they are quite noisy. A mouse litter can contain from 1 to 14 mice, but on average the number of newborns is 5-8. Mice are born naked and blind, the shells of their ears are closed; weigh about 1.5 g.
Little mice are developing
quickly: after 2-4 days, fluff appears on the body, in 3 days the ear canals open, after 4-6 days the ears come off the head, after 8 days the lower incisors erupt, after 13 days the eyes open. Within 14-16 days, mice are able to move independently and take regular food. After 3-4 weeks, the pups can be separated from their mother. After approximately 25 days, the new offspring should be separated by sex and placed in separate cages. For subsequent reproduction, mice at the age of 6-8 weeks must be paired, and the mouse pair should not be related by blood.
Which spread throughout the planet, becoming one of the most common mammals. This happened due to their ability to coexist next to humans.
Habitat
The house mouse, the photo of which is presented in this article, is actually a wild animal. It got its name for living near humans. House mice live everywhere in the world, except in areas permafrost, Antarctica and highlands. Latin name animal - Mus musculus, while a 3rd word is added to it, demonstrating the habitat area, for example, house mice that live in southeast Asia are Mus musculus castaneus. In our country, house mice also live almost everywhere: in the Krasnodar Territory, Rostov region, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Astrakhan, etc. The only exceptions are the regions of the far north.
Lifestyle
The house mouse lives in various biotopes and landscapes, including anthropogenic landscapes. It is very closely associated with people and often inhabits outbuildings and residential buildings. In the north they carry out seasonal migrations. For example, at the end of summer, animals begin to move en masse to warm places: grain and vegetable storage facilities, residential buildings, warehouses. The range of such migrations can reach 5 km. They often overwinter in stacks, stacks and forest belts. In the spring they leave their “winter apartments”, returning to gardens, orchards, and fields. In the south of the range they often live all year round without human habitation. In this place, house mice are attached to various reservoirs and oases.
In nature, they are nocturnal and twilight animals, but in human habitation they adapt their daily routine to the life of people. Sometimes, under artificial lighting, they remain active around the clock, reducing it only during periods of active human activity. At the same time, the activity of animals is polyphasic; there are up to 20 periods of wakefulness per day, which last up to 90 minutes. Like many other mice, they adhere to constant specific routes when moving, creating noticeable paths with small piles of dust and droppings, held together by urine.
House mice are very nimble, active animals; They run, jump, climb, and even swim well. But they do not often move far from their nest. Each mouse in nature has an individual area: for males up to 1200 m2 and for females up to 900 m2. But when large, animals settle in small family groups or colonies, consisting of a main male, several females with their children. Hierarchical relationships are always established among the members of this colony. Males are quite aggressive relative to each other, females show aggression much less often. Clashes within family groups are very rare; they mainly involve the expulsion of offspring who have already grown up.
Description
House mice are long-tailed, small rodents with an oval-shaped body, small head, beady eyes and round ears. The tail is covered with sparse hairs and ring-shaped scales. Animals that live in nature have a zonal type of color, in this case the hair at the base of their tail is brownish-brown, the middle is fawn, and the tip is painted a pale gray shade. The abdomen is colored much lighter - to white. At the same time, which were bred by selective breeding, have a huge range of colors: black, white, gray-blue, yellow, as well as colors that combine several shades. White mice are albinos, since they practically do not synthesize melanin, which is responsible for the color of tissues. Breeders also bred tailless, long-haired, short-tailed, hairless, satin and curly mice.
Character
House mice are curious, lively, cunning, intelligent, but very timid animals. Unexpected noise or sharp sounds frighten them. They don't like loneliness either. Without communication and attention, house mice become sad and begin to run wild. Females are excellent mothers, and males show paternal feelings towards their offspring only if there are no other males in the cage.
Relationships with other pets
House mice are pets that can be dangerous to dogs, cats, rats and birds.
Attitude towards children
They can be started in those families in which the children are 10 years old. They want to have their “own” animal, although they have no experience in caring for one. Many people are interested in the question: “Do house mice bite or not?” It is worth noting that they are not aggressive, although they can bite until they have had time to adapt to the owners and the environment, therefore, first it is necessary to help children get acquainted with the animal, as well as tame it. Very young children should not be left alone with these miniature, yet nimble and dexterous creatures.
Education
House mice are pets that are among the smartest animals among rodents, while decorative varieties quickly get used to their owners and are perfectly tamed if they are given enough attention, while speaking affectionately and softly. They are able to remember their nickname. Mice quickly begin to recognize the scent of the person who brings food, and will greet him with a cheerful squeak. Animals can be trained to respond to various whistles and various commands, for example, “Come to me!”, “Serve!”, “Home!”
It is worth noting that scientists have been studying house mice for a long time. Kotenkova E.V. (doctor biological sciences), for example, has devoted a lot of time to this issue, writing several scientific papers about their behavior, as well as their role in ancient mythology.
Nutrition
House mice have a main diet of grains and seeds. They happily eat wheat, oats and millet, as well as unroasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds. They can also be given dairy products, white bread, kibble egg white and boiled meat. Green parts various plants can make up a third of the animal’s diet with a normal amount of water. At the same time, among succulent foods, mice prefer cabbage and dandelion leaves, slices of cucumber, beets and carrots, green grass. Mice need up to three milliliters of water during the day. In summer they can feed on insects and their larvae. Mice have a very high metabolism, therefore, they should always have food in their feeder.
You can keep a mouse at home in a fine-mesh metal cage, as well as in a special organic glass container with a lid. It is necessary because mice are excellent jumpers. The terrarium or cage must be spacious enough, since animals are very active and need movement. Strips of unpainted paper or shavings are used as bedding. A house (a jar, a box, a pot, etc.) is installed in the cage, in which the mice will arrange a nest, a drinking bowl, a feeder, a piece of chalk, as well as other devices for games. Stairs, levels, shelters, branches are suitable for this; it is also advisable to install a running wheel.
The terrarium or cage is placed as far as possible from windows, radiators, air conditioners and doors, since animals do not like temperature fluctuations, direct sun rays and drafts. Best temperature air 20°C with air humidity of 55%. Every day, garbage and leftover food are removed from the cage, and the feeders and drinking bowl are washed. The bedding is changed three times a week, at least once a month it is necessary to disinfect and completely clean the terrarium or cage. Mice feces have an unpleasant, pungent odor. At the same time, females smell much weaker than males.
In the terrarium, it is advisable to install pieces of large tree branches directly with the bark (birch, willow, rowan) so that the animals can grind their incisors on them. It must be taken into account that lilac is poisonous to these animals. You can also put wooden toys in the cage, with which the animal will play, grinding down its incisors. With well-organized housing, house mice do not need walks. If the animal does go out for a walk, then the place for its walks must be limited to the owner’s hands or a table. It must be remembered that various house plants are poisonous to mice, including aralia, yucca, kala, etc.
Such mice are evening and nocturnal animals; they can disturb sleep with the noise and various sounds they create, although they generally adapt to the human regime.
The destruction of such mice is caused by the damage they cause to human supplies, as well as equipment and household appliances.
Wild house mice, which have been fought by humans for centuries, are capable of eating almost anything. As a result, food, candles and soap, wiring, etc. become eaten away in the house.
Animals in warehouses gnaw grain, destroy crops of various root crops, eat cereal reserves, and, in addition, significantly pollute the house with the products of their vital activity. They actively excrete their waste, so even a small population can cause enormous harm. Thus, the animals do not eat the bulk of the grain, but rather pollute it.
In addition, brownies (we will learn below) are carriers huge amount pathogens of various diseases. They can transmit E. coli, helminth eggs to a person, cause plague and blood-sucking insects very often live on them, including fleas and ticks, which happily spread to humans.
Consequently, house mice can cause significant harm. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to get rid of them. Professional extermination of animals is becoming the main activity for suburban areas, private houses, organizations Catering, as well as various types of institutions. This service can be ordered from specialized companies, or you can use a mousetrap the old fashioned way.
A little history
Mice are born periodically in nature. white- albinos, for whom it is almost impossible to survive, since they are very noticeable and also instantly become prey. But in ancient times in Crete they were kept in the form of living amulets that bring good luck. They were also kept in temples, where they were specially looked after by ministers. 4000 years ago in Ancient Egypt bred and kept mice, giving close attention colored species. The Egyptians attributed supernatural abilities to them, and also depicted them on their clay vessels.
During the period of Ancient Rome and in the Middle Ages, healers used mice and rats for medicinal potions, while in Asia they are still specially bred for such purposes. With the development of veterinary medicine and experimental medicine, mice and rats began to be used for various studies as laboratory animals. It is believed that decorative and laboratory mice originate from white, spotted and black fighting mice, described in a book published in 1787. It talks about the animals that were used for fighting at that time. English merchants brought them from Japan. Subsequently, the mice formed a special line of house mice, and decorative breeds began to be bred as pets.
Currently in various countries Western Europe and America there are Mouse Lovers Clubs, main goal which is considered to be the breeding of new varieties of these animals. Most often, individuals of different colors are obtained: gray, white, red, brown, lilac or pinkish, with spots. Special exhibitions with expert assessments are held there.
But in our country decorative mice are less known than in America and Europe, but among animal fans they are becoming more and more popular every year. Special sections have been created in clubs for lovers of various rodents decorative mice, nurseries are opened that engage in selection and breeding work, and exhibitions are also held where house decorative mice are exhibited along with other small animals.
A mouse is a small animal that belongs to the class mammals, order rodents, family mouse (lat. Muridae).
Mouse - description, characteristics and photos. What does a mouse look like?
The length of the mouse’s body, covered with short fur, varies from 5 to 19 cm, depending on the species, and doubles with the tail. These rodents have quite short neck. The pointed muzzle shows small black beady eyes and small semicircular ears, allowing the mice to hear well. Thin and sensitive whiskers growing around the nose give them the ability to perfectly navigate their surroundings. Mice, unlike mice, do not have cheek pouches.
The mouse's paws are short with five prehensile toes. The surface of the tail is covered with keratinized scales with sparse hairs. The color of the mouse is usually characterized by gray, brown or red tones, but there are variegated and striped individuals, as well as white mice. Animals lead an active lifestyle in the evening or at night. They communicate with each other using a thin squeak.
Types of mice, names and photos.
The mouse family includes 4 subfamilies, 147 genera and 701 species, the most common of which are:
- (lat. Apodemus agrarius) reaches a size of 12.5 cm, not counting the tail, which can be up to 9 cm long. The color of the back of the mouse is gray, with a slight yellowish-brown tint and a dark stripe running along the ridge, and the belly is light gray colors. The habitat of the field mouse includes Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland, Bulgaria, the southern part of Western Siberia and Primorye, Mongolia, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula and separate territories China. This species of mice lives in wide meadows, in dense thickets of bushes, city gardens and parks, and makes a refuge both in burrows and in any natural shelters. In flooded areas it builds nests on bushes. Depending on the season, the diet may consist of seeds, berries, green parts of plants and various insects. Harvest mouse is the main pest of grain crops.
- (lat. Apodemus flavicollis) has a reddish-gray color and a light belly (sometimes with a small spot yellow color). The body size of adult individuals reaches 10-13 cm, the tail has approximately the same length. The mouse weighs about 50 grams. This type of mouse is widespread in the forests of Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Caucasus, the northern provinces of China and Altai. Yellow-throated mice live on open edges in hollow trees or dug holes, but they can also live in rocky areas. Their diet includes both plant and animal foods. Eating young shoots fruit trees, they cause significant harm to nurseries.
- Grass mouse (Nilotic grass mouse) (lat. Arvicanthis niloticus) is one of the most major representatives of the mouse family and can reach 19 cm in length, and with the tail - 35 cm. The weight of individual large individuals exceeds 100 g. The fur of the back and sides is dark gray or grayish-brown in color with individual hard and prickly bristles of a darker shade. The belly color is light gray. This type of mouse is most common in African countries, where they live in bushes, forests and savannas. As a refuge, grass mice choose abandoned termite mounds or dig holes on their own, but on occasion they can enter human habitation. The basis of the diet of mice is plant food.
- (lat. Micromys minutus) is one of the smallest rodents in the world. The body length of an adult animal does not exceed 7 cm, the tail - 6.5 cm, and the weight of the baby does not exceed 10 g. The back and sides are plain and have a reddish-brown or brown color, in contrast to the light gray, almost white belly. The muzzle of baby mice is short and blunt, with small ears. The distribution area of this species of mice stretches from west to east from the northwestern provinces of Spain to Korea and Japan, in the south to Kazakhstan, China and northern regions Mongolia. The mouse lives in forest and forest-steppe zones, in meadows with tall grass. IN summer time Mice use nests made in the grass as shelter, and spend the winter in burrows, haystacks, and human residential or outbuildings. The basis of the diet of baby mice is the seeds of cereals and legumes, as well as small insects. They often settle near granaries, causing enormous damage to agriculture.
- (lat. Mus musculus) is the most widespread species of the rodent family on the planet. The body length of an adult mouse does not exceed 9.5 cm, and together with the tail - 15 cm. The weight of the mouse is 12-30 g. The color of the fur on the sides and back is gray with a brown tint, and on the abdomen from light gray to white. Individuals living in desert areas are sandy in color. The mouse's muzzle is sharp with small rounded ears. The distribution range of this species of mice does not include only the territory of the Far North, Antarctica and high mountain regions. House mice live in all types of landscapes and natural areas, and very often penetrate into human outbuildings and residential buildings. In natural conditions, they dig minks on their own, although they can also occupy homes abandoned by other rodents. They feed on seeds and juicy green parts of plants, and once they enter a person’s home, they eat everything they can get their teeth into – from bread and sausages to paraffin candles.
- (lat. Lemniscomys striatus) is a small rodent: the length of the body is 10-15 cm, intermittent stripes of light colors are visible along the back and along the sides. IN natural conditions striped mice rarely live more than 6-7 months; in captivity they live two to three times longer. The menu of these individuals includes mainly plant “dishes”: root vegetables, soft seeds, juicy fruits, and occasionally small insects.
- (akomis) (lat. Acomys) is a rather cute representative of the mouse family, the owner of huge eyes and equally large ears. The size of the spiny mouse, including its tail, is 13-26 cm; the back of the animal is covered with thin needles, like a regular mouse. Amazing Feature These animals have regeneration: when in danger, the mouse is able to shed a piece of skin, leaving the attacker bewildered. Skin covering quickly recovers without damage to the individual. Spiny mouse lives in Asian countries, found in Cyprus and Africa. Its diet relies on plant foods; this animal is often kept as a pet.
Where does the mouse live?
The distribution range of mice covers almost all climatic zones, zones and continents of the globe. Mouse representatives can be found in tropical thickets, conifers or deciduous forests, steppe expanses and desert, on mountain slopes or in swampy areas. Mice also live in people's homes.
Mice can make nests from grass stems, occupy abandoned holes, or dig complex systems underground passages. Unlike species that live in swamps, mountain, steppe and forest mice swim poorly.
What does a mouse eat?
The basis of the diet of mice is plant food: grass seeds, fruits of trees or shrubs and cereals (oats, barley, millet, buckwheat). Mice that live in swampy areas, wet and flooded meadows, feed on leaves, buds or flowers of plants and shrubs. Some types of mice prefer protein supplement as insects, worms, beetles, spiders
The mouse does not hibernate in winter and can move under the snow crust without appearing on the surface. To survive the cold, she has to create substantial food reserves in pantries located near the entrance to the burrow.
The family Mouse or mice are small-sized animals of the mammalian class, belonging to the order of rodents, which has not been definitively classified. The huge family includes 4 subfamilies, which includes 147 genera and 701 species. Animals are found everywhere, especially a species of mouse called. People's attitude towards these representatives of the fauna is ambiguous. Some people fight them, trying to rid their home of uninvited “guests,” while others specifically breed and tame small rodents.
General characteristics of mouse representatives
The large family of mice is not fully understood. On the territory of Russia there are 13 species of animals from the order of rodents, representing 5 genera. They all have a similar appearance and lead almost the same lifestyle. Possessing unique ability adapt to any living conditions, mice feel great in all natural areas. The exceptions are the Far North and Antarctica. Ubiquitous various types rodents allows us to speak about the numerical dominance of their representatives among other mammals.
Interesting!
Everyone familiar word“mouse” translated from the Indo-European language means “thief”, which is fully justified by the habits of the nimble animal.
Appearance:
- The mammal has a small elongated body. Its dimensions, depending on the species of the individual, range from 5 to 20 cm. This parameter is doubled due to the tail.
- The body of the mouse is covered with short hair, the color palette of which is gray, brown, red or brown. In nature, there are striped and variegated individuals, as well as snow-white albino rodents.
- The average weight of a mouse is 20-50 grams.
- Animals have a short neck.
- On the pointed, triangular-shaped muzzle, there are small black beady eyes and semicircular ears, providing good sound perception.
- Due to the sensitive thin whiskers - vibrissae - growing around the mouse's nose, it is able to perfectly navigate its surroundings.
- The short legs are equipped with 5 tenacious fingers, allowing them to overcome significant obstacles and dig holes.
To get acquainted with representatives of the rodent order, it is advisable to carefully study the photos of mice posted on the site.
The animals, like other representatives of this family, have two pairs of large incisors located on the upper and lower jaws. They are very sharp and constantly grow - up to 1 mm per day, so they must be ground down. Lack of opportunity to carry out this procedure can lead to the death of the mouse if the length of the organs reaches 2 cm.
Rodents are highly fertile. At the age of 3 months, the female is capable of conception and childbearing. Wild mice living in natural conditions in the warm season, animals living in heated rooms - year-round. Pregnancy lasts approximately 20-24 days and, after this time, from 3 to 12 cubs are born.
Mice are born absolutely helpless - blind, toothless, naked. The mouse feeds it with milk for about a month. By the 10th day, the offspring are completely covered with hair, and after 3 weeks they become independent and disperse. At favorable conditions The population is growing rapidly. The average is 1-1.5 years. Genetically, they are capable of existing for 5 years, but how long the animal will live depends on specific circumstances.
On a note!
Bats do not belong to the mouse family. They are representatives of the order Chiroptera, which ranks second in size after rodents.
Lifestyle
The mouse can cause huge damage to a person. By nature and food preferences, a rodent is a predator. But the pest mainly consumes plant foods and therefore its diet consists of seeds, fruits of trees or shrubs and cereal crops. Mice living in swampy areas, wet or flooded meadows feed on the buds, foliage or flowers of various plants.
The herbivorous creature eats helpless chicks with appetite, steals eggs from nests, feasts on worms and various insects, replenishing the body’s protein reserves. When settling in or near a person’s home, mice happily destroy potatoes, sausages and bakery products, eggs and other food products that are easy to get to. They do not disdain soap, candles, toilet paper, books, and polyethylene.
Interesting!
The strong smell of cheese can repel rodents.
Various breeds of mice, having settled almost throughout the planet, arranging their habitat, can build nests from grass stems, occupy abandoned holes, old hollows, or dig complex underground systems with many passages. Once in a person’s home, rodents settle under the floor, in attics, and between walls. Unlike representatives living in swamps and near water bodies, they are steppe, mountain and swim poorly.
The active life of animals coincides with the evening or night time, but they try not to move too far from their home. The mouse has many enemies, these include birds of prey, reptiles, mongooses, foxes, cats, crows and other representatives of the fauna.
Mice make huge reserves for the winter, but do not hibernate.
Mostly voracious and ubiquitous rodents cause harm, but there is one area of science in which the omnivorous mouse is useful and irreplaceable. These are special scientific and medical laboratories where animals become experimental subjects. Thanks to these small animals, many important discoveries were made in genetics, pharmacology, physiology and other sciences. Surprisingly, 80% of the genes endowed with a living mouse are similar to human structures.
Diversity of the mouse family
Animals are adapted to any living conditions the best way. Agile and agile in their movements, rodents can run quickly, jump, climb, penetrate through the narrowest holes, and if there is an obstacle in front of them, they use sharp teeth. A description of a mouse would not be complete without mentioning that they are quite smart and cautious, but at the same time shameless, cunning and brave. Possessing an excellent sense of smell and hearing, they are able to quickly respond to danger.
The names of mice, which are often associated with their habitat, as well as their varieties, are very diverse. The most common types of rodents found in nature are:
- African;
- baby mice;
- mountain;
- brownies;
- forest;
- herbal;
- striped;
- spiny and other individuals.
On the territory of Russia, the most common are the following 3 types of mice - house, forest and field.
Interesting!
Most mice live in packs. Relationships are subject to a strict hierarchical system, headed by a male and several “privileged” females. Each mouse is assigned a specific territory where they can get food. The offspring are raised together, but upon reaching “majority” they are unanimously expelled from the family to live independently.
The species of mice that exist in nature differ in size, color, and habitat. Let's take a closer look at some representatives of the rodent order.
African mice
This subgroup includes 5 species of animals. Average length adult the mouse is within 10 cm. The color of the back is chestnut, and the belly is most often presented in white tones. Mouse with long tail, whose length is 1.5 times longer than the body, settles in trees and makes a nest in old hollows. The rodent feeds only on plant foods. The mouse's lifestyle is nocturnal.
Grass mice
Representatives of this genus mainly live in Africa, in the eastern part of the continent. The rodent mouse settles in thickets of bushes, occupies other people's burrows or digs them on its own, but can penetrate into people's houses. The animals are among the largest and can reach 19 cm in length (with the tail this parameter is 35 cm), weighing more than 100 g. The fur on the back and sides of the mouse is colored in dark gray or grayish-brown tones. Individual stiff bristles have a darker color.
On a note!
The herbivorous mouse lives in large colonies, making devastating raids on farmland.
Forest dweller
The animal lives in natural conditions, making its home in bushes, on forest edges, and in floodplains. The main places where mice are placed are mixed and broadleaf forests Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Altai, Eastern Europe. The body length is 10-11 cm, the tail is 7 cm, and the weight is approximately 20 g. The mouse with large round ears, which is its main difference from its relatives, is characterized by a sharp muzzle and two-color colors. Top part the body and tail are colored red-brown or even black, and the belly, legs and fingers are white.
The mouse overwinters in burrows located at a depth of 2 m and comes out with the onset of a thaw. The main food is grain, seeds, young tree seedlings, but rodents do not refuse insects.
Yellow-throated mouse
These rodents are listed in the Red Book of the Moscow Region. Main characteristic feature The animals are an unusual grayish-red color of mice, and they have a yellow stripe around their necks. The body size of an adult is in the range of 10-13 cm with the same tail length. The mouse weighs about 50 g. Its wide distribution area includes forests in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Altai, and the northern provinces of China. The yellow mouse eats plant and animal foods. Causes enormous damage to gardens, destroying young shoots of fruit trees
Gerbil
The mouse came to the territory of the Russian Federation from the USA. She was brought in for laboratory research, but quickly became adopted as a pet. The mouse is characterized by an unpleasant odor, although it looks like a very cute, friendly creature. There are more than 100 subspecies of gerbils in the world, of which the dwarf and Mongolian breeds of mice live here. The animal's belly is almost white, and its brown-red back is decorated with a bright black stripe located along the entire body. The rodent has neat small ears, a pink nose, a blunt muzzle and large beady eyes. A mouse with a tassel on its tail can be found quite often among lovers of exotic animals.
Harvest mouse
Externally, the mouse is very similar to a gerbil, but in everyday life it can be called a vole. Under natural conditions, it lives in fields and meadows and causes damage to agriculture. In flooded areas it can make nests in bushes. The dark, reddish-brown color of the upper body with black stripes contrasts sharply with the white belly and paws of the mouse. The body length varies from 7 to 12 cm, the tail of the animal is not very large.
Mice are active at night, since during the day they have to hide from numerous predatory animals, which include such a reptile as the snake. The diet of rodents consists mainly of plant food, but they can feast on various insects. High fertility allows maintaining the size of the field mouse population. They feel great in Europe, Siberia, Primorye, Mongolia and other places. The mouse in the photo posted on the site will allow you to carefully examine the small animal.
House mouse
The most common type of rodent. Gray mouse, sneaking into people's apartments, brings a lot of problems, spoils food products, chews furniture, electrical wiring, walls, things and other interior items. The habitat of pests is all landscape and natural areas, with the exception of the territory of the Far North and Antarctica. The gray-humped mouse (another name for a mammal) digs holes on its own, but can also occupy abandoned homes.
- The dimensions of the animal do not exceed 9.5 cm; taking into account the tail, its total length is 15 cm.
- The weight of the mouse varies from 12 to 30 grams.
- The main food products are seeds and juicy greens, however, once in a human house, the mouse becomes omnivorous.
One of the animal species is the black mouse.
People have mixed feelings about rodents. As a result of this, quite often at home you can find unusual mice that are real favorites of family members. Tame pets can be trained and perform simple tricks with small objects. A large group of rodents is capable of not only causing damage, but also giving joy.
House mice are rodents that live in people's homes. In the photo, the house mouse looks like ordinary mice. Is there a difference between them?
Because house mice were so well adapted to living with people, they were able to spread throughout the world, thus becoming one of the most widespread mammals. Mice are also pets and model organisms for laboratory research.
Appearance of a house mouse
The house mouse is a long-tailed small rodent with a body length of 6.5 to 9.5 cm. In relation to the body length, the tail is less than 60%.
The top of the tail is covered with ring-shaped horny scales and short sparse hairs. The weight of an adult is from 12 to 30 grams. The ears are small and rounded. The skin has a brownish-gray or dark color. The color of the abdomen ranges from white to ash-gray. Desert mice have a light yellowish-sandy color and a white belly.
Domesticated mice are variegated, blue-gray, yellow, black or white. Females have five pairs of nipples. In the house mouse, sexual dimorphism is not pronounced.
Distribution of the house mouse and its subspecies
The house mouse is a cosmopolitan species and lives almost everywhere. It is only absent high in the mountains, Antarctica and the Far North. The main factors that limit the spread of house mice are high humidity And low temperatures. On the territory of Russia, the house mouse is not found in the mountain tundras, in the area between the Lena and Yenisei rivers, in Taimyr, and in most of northeastern Siberia.
Presumably the homeland of the house mouse is North Africa, Western Asia or North India. In Western Asia, the house mouse is known in fossil form. The house mouse has spread throughout the world along with humans.
Currently, about one hundred and thirty subspecies of the house mouse have been described. They are grouped into four main subspecies.
1. M.m. castaneus - lives in South-East Asia;
2. M.m. bactrianus – lives in Asia with the exception of the Southeast region;
3. M.m. domestic - distributed in Australia, America, Europe and most of Africa;
4. M.m. musculus - lives in Eastern Europe starting from the territory of Poland and further eastward occupying most of Russia.
It was long believed that the Japanese subspecies M.m. molossinus is the fifth "major" subspecies, but according to recent research it is a hybrid between M.m. castaneus and M. m musculus.
It's interesting that in Ancient Rome mice and rats were considered the same species, so rats were simply called the big mouse.
Lifestyle of a house mouse
House mice live in a wide variety of biotopes and landscapes, including anthropogenic ones. In general, it can be argued that house mice are very closely related to humans and are a synanthropic species. The house mouse often lives in outbuildings and residential buildings. In the north of their range, mice migrate seasonally. At the end summer period or at the beginning of autumn, animals begin to migrate en masse to the so-called “feeding places”, which include warehouses, grain and vegetable storage facilities, as well as residential buildings. In autumn, the migration range can reach up to five kilometers. House mice often spend the winter in stacks, haystacks and forest belts.
In spring, house mice leave their wintering grounds and return to natural environment habitats, in gardens, orchards and fields. In the south of the range, in semi-deserts and deserts, they often live outside human habitation throughout the year. In such conditions, house mice gravitate towards various bodies of water and oases.
In its natural habitat, the house mouse prefers soft, not too dry soils. In them they dig small holes with a simple structure. The length of the hole reaches one meter, and the nesting chamber is located at a depth of 20-30 centimeters and has from one to three entrances. In winter, mice often deepen their holes to 50-60 centimeters. The diameter of the nesting chamber ranges from ten to twenty-five centimeters. Inside the chamber, the animals arrange bedding using soft plant rags. House mice often occupy burrows belonging to other rodents: gerbils, mole rats, voles. Cracks in the ground and natural voids are also used for housing.
House mice that settle near people set up their homes in the most protected and secluded places. Most often they live in attics, in household waste, piles of garbage and under the floor. To make nests, house mice use any available material: artificial fibers, feathers, scraps of fabric, paper.
Under natural conditions, house mice lead a nocturnal and crepuscular lifestyle. But living next to a person, they adjust the daily routine depending on the nature of the person’s activity. Under artificial lighting, a house mouse can remain active around the clock, reducing it only during those periods when people themselves are active. The activity of a house mouse in this case is polyphasic: during one day there may be fifteen to twenty periods of wakefulness lasting from twenty-five minutes to one and a half hours. Like many other members of the mouse family, house mice tend to follow regular routes when moving.
Such routes are easy to follow thanks to noticeable piles of dust and droppings, which are held together by urine.
The house mouse is a very nimble, agile animal. They run quite fast, reaching speeds of up to 13 km/h, jump well, climb well and are good swimmers. However, they rarely move away from their nest. Under natural conditions, each mouse has its own individual area. In males it reaches 1200 sq.m, and in females – up to 900 sq.m. However, if the population is dense enough, mice prefer to settle in family groups, which consist of one dominant male, as well as several females with their offspring or small colonies.
Relations within the colony are hierarchical. Adult males are quite aggressive towards each other. In contrast, females show aggression much less frequently. Inside family group skirmishes occur rarely and, as a rule, they boil down to expelling the grown-up offspring.
House mouse nutrition
In natural habitats, the house mouse is a typical seed eater. The seeds of cultivated and wild plants serve as food. Preference is given to seeds of Asteraceae, legumes and cereals.
The house mouse's diet also includes carrion, insects and their larvae. Green parts of plants are also eaten, which, depending on how accessible it is drinking water can account for up to a third of food intake. Every day a house mouse consumes up to three milliliters of water. If the relative air humidity was about thirty percent, and the food was exclusively dry, then during the experiment, laboratory mice died from dehydration on days 15-16.
Mice readily eat dairy products, chocolate, meat or grain. Under natural conditions, if there is an excess of food, reserves are made.
House Mouse Reproduction
The house mouse is extremely fertile. If conditions are favorable (for example, in stacks and heated rooms), then it can reproduce throughout the year. Under natural conditions, the breeding season lasts from March to November. Re-entry into estrus is observed in females within 12-18 hours after the birth of offspring. Over the course of a year, a house mouse can bear from five to fourteen litters. Each litter contains from three to twelve cubs.
The duration of pregnancy is about twenty days (19-21). The cubs are born naked and blind. After about ten days, their bodies are completely covered with fur. After two weeks of life, their eyes open, and at the age of three weeks they become independent and capable of settling. The house mouse reaches sexual maturity in the fifth to seventh week of life.
It should be noted that males, trying to attract a female, emit ultrasonic calls of 30 - 110 kHz. In their complexity, these calls are comparable to the singing of birds. The house mouse easily interbreeds with the Kurganchik mouse, which lives, for example, in the Black Sea region.
The offspring from such crosses are quite normal and viable. A number of zoologists consider the Kurganchik mouse to be a subspecies of the house mouse.
Enemies of the house mouse
The house mouse has many enemies, primarily predators. These are birds of prey, snakes, large lizards, mongooses, small representatives of the mustelid family, foxes, cats, crows and even.
House mice are serious competition for house mice, which often kill and even partially eat their small relatives.
At the same time, mice themselves can act as predators, which is generally unusual for them.
Once upon a time, mice were accidentally brought to Gough Island in the South Atlantic and took root there. Because the natural enemies they did not have on the island, they multiplied very quickly and now their population is estimated at 0.7 million individuals. It should also be noted that these island mice are three times larger than their mainland counterparts. They form groups and attack bird nests with them, eating the chicks.
It must be said that Gough Island is the most important colony of sea birds, among which we can mention such birds as Schlegel's typhoon and. These birds do not nest anywhere else. However, despite the fact that albatross chicks can reach a height of one meter and weigh 250 times more than the mice of this island, they practically do not move and are unable to defend themselves.
As a result, mice literally gnaw through the bodies of the chicks and inflict deep wounds on them. According to scientists, mice destroy over a million chicks on this island every year.
Lifespan of a house mouse
Under natural conditions, the lifespan of these rodents is one to one and a half years. However, in captivity they can live up to three years. The life expectancy record is almost five years (1819 days).
Sense organs of a house mouse
The sense organs of these rodents are very well developed. True, the house mouse's vision is quite weak.
Like most other rodents, they are characterized by farsightedness. At the same time, they have very acute hearing. The range of frequencies they perceive is very wide - up to 100 kHz. For comparison, the upper threshold for humans is 20 kHz. In low light conditions, the house mouse can navigate perfectly using its whiskers. The role of smell is extremely important in the life of mice, necessary both for searching for food and for recognizing relatives.
Every mouse has sweat glands on its paws, which they use to automatically mark their territory. If the mouse is very frightened, then a substance is released into the urine, causing fear and flight in other animals. Moreover, the smell is quite stable and lasts up to a quarter of a day, informing other mice that the place is unsafe.
Moreover, if the signal substance was left by a male, then all individuals react to it, while only females react to a female’s mark, while males ignore it.
House mouse and man
House mice are pests and carriers of a number of dangerous infections, such as plague, etc. At the same time, mice perform very important role as laboratory animals. On July 1, 2013, a monument to a laboratory mouse was even erected in Novosibirsk for its contribution to experimental medicine and genetics.
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