Mouse

House mouse (Mus musculus)

The mice (Mus ) are a rodent species from the group of Altweltmäuse ( Murinae ). The genus includes about 40 species, of which the house mouse is the most famous and most widely used. Most other species live in Africa and in South and Southeast Asia.

Features

Mice reach a head -body length from 4.5 to 12.5 centimeters, added a 3 to 11 cm long tail. The weight, if known, is between 12 and 35 grams. The coat is soft, rough or prickly depending on the type, its color ranges from light gray at the top of a variety of gray and brown to black-brown, the underside is lighter. The tail appears hairless, but covered with fine hairs.

Distribution and habitat

The original area of ​​distribution apparently included Africa, Southern Europe and large parts of southern and southeastern Asia. The house mouse has in the wake of man attained a worldwide distribution and lives as a single species in the Americas and Australia. Mice come in a variety of habitats, including forests, savannas, grasslands and rocky areas. Some species have but so dedicated to her role as a cultural followers that they are mostly found near human dwellings. In addition to the house mouse, this applies to the African pygmy mouse, to a limited extent for the rice field mouse and the Falbmaus.

Way of life

The wild species are mostly nocturnal, the following types of culture, however, can be active at any time, day or night. They are mostly bottom dwellers but can climb well, and - at least in the case of house mouse - even swim. When resting places serve them crevices, self-dug burrows or man-made shelters.

Mice feed on a variety of plant materials such as seeds, roots, leaves and stems. Some species also eat insects and other small animals if available. The culture following species eat any human food available.

System

Wilson & Reeder (2005) lead the mice as namesake of the Mus genus group that includes next nor the Ethiopian strips mouse ( Muriculus imberbis ). According to genetic studies of Lecompte et al. (2008 ) form the mice own tribe, Murini, within the Altweltmäuse.

39 species are known which can be divided into four genera:

  • Subgenus Mus Mus is booduga distributed on the Indian subcontinent.
  • The rice field mouse (Mus caroli ) inhabits southern China and Southeast Asia.
  • The Falbmaus (Mus cervicolor ) is fragmentary spread from northern India to Indonesia.
  • The Cook - mouse (Mus cookii ) inhabits the northern South and Southeast Asia.
  • The Cyprus - mouse (Mus cypriacus ) is endemic to Cyprus.
  • Mus famulus occurs at the southern tip of India.
  • Mus fragilicauda is known from a few localities in Thailand and Laos.
  • The Macedonian house mouse (Mus macedonicus ) lives on the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor.
  • The house mouse (Mus musculus) originally lived in Eurasia, but has achieved a worldwide distribution in the wake of man.
  • The ears mouse (Mus spicilegus ) is widespread in central and eastern Europe.
  • The Algerian house mouse (Mus spretus ) comes in the western Mediterranean ( in northwestern Africa and the Iberian Peninsula) before.
  • Mus is terri color spread on the Indian subcontinent.
  • Mus baoulei comes from Guinea to Togo before.
  • Mus bufo inhabited a small area on the East African grave breach.
  • Mus callewaerti lives in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.
  • Mus goundae is known only from one locality in the Central African Republic.
  • Mus Hausa inhabited a large area in West Africa.
  • Mus indutus occurs in dry areas in southern Africa.
  • Mus is mahomet home from the highlands of Ethiopia to Uganda and Kenya.
  • Mus mattheyi lives in western Africa from Senegal to Ghana.
  • The African pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides ) is distributed from southern Sudan to South Africa.
  • Mus musculoides inhabited large parts of western and central Africa.
  • Mus neavei inhabited Zambia and South Africa, and possibly even other countries.
  • Mus orangiae comes in higher areas before in South Africa and Lesotho.
  • Mus oubanguii is known only from one locality in the Central African Republic.
  • Mus setulosus has a fragmented distribution area in western and central Africa.
  • Mus setzeri is known from Namibia, Botswana and Zambia.
  • Mus sorella lives in the area of the East African grave breach.
  • Mus tenellus inhabited drylands of Sudan and Ethiopia to Tanzania.
  • The Triton mouse (Mus triton ) is spread over the central and eastern Africa.
  • Mus crociduroides lives in western Sumatra.
  • Mus Mayori is endemic to Sri Lanka.
  • Mus pahari lives in much of Southeast Asia.
  • Mus vulcani only occurs in mountainous areas of western Java.
  • Mus fernandoni is endemic to Sri Lanka.
  • Mus phillipsi lives in India.
  • Mus platythrix inhabited central and southern India.
  • Mus saxicola inhabited the Indian subcontinent.
  • Mus shortridgei occurs in northern Southeast Asia.

The Algerian house mouse, the Macedonian house mouse, the mouse ears and the Cyprus mouse were long regarded as subspecies of the house mouse, by recent morphological and biochemical analyzes of their autonomy has been proven.

Endangering

Most species of mice are common and not endangered. However, a few species with a small distribution area are an endangered species. The IUCN lists famulus M. and M. fernandoni as " critically endangered " ( endangered ) and M. Mayori and M. vulcani considered "at risk " ( vulnerable ). For crociduroides M., M. fragilicauda, M. goundae, M. and M. neavei oubanguii too little data are available.

Digital Object Identifier Don E. Wilson
588805
de