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Mouse Facts & Worksheets

The mouse, or genus Mus in Latin, is a group of rodents distributed worldwide with bodies that are little longer than roughly 12 cm (5 inches). Any of the 38 species in the genus Mus is called a "mouse" in scientific contexts.

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The mouse, or genus Mus in Latin, is a group of rodents distributed worldwide with bodies that are little longer than roughly 12 cm (5 inches). Any of the 38 species in the genus Mus is called a “mouse” in scientific contexts.

See the fact file below for more information about Mice, or you can download our 29-page Mice worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

ANATOMY

  • Mice are primarily nocturnal in their natural environments, though some will sometimes go out for food during the day. Though several species can jump, climb, and swim effectively, they are terrestrial animals. Certain burrowers are specialized and hardly observed above ground.
  • The majority of the species, particularly those found in grasslands and savannas, dig chambers and tunnels where they assemble globular nests made of dry vegetation. In a healthy ecosystem, reptiles, mammals, and birds—particularly owls—prey on species of Mus and other small-bodied rodents, sometimes to a noticeable extent.
  • An excellent example of a mouse’s straightforward but efficient excavating method is the Ryukyu mouse (M. caroli). Using its incisor teeth, the mouse loosens the earth and then uses its hind feet to push the mound of debris out of the tunnel opening.
  • In other cases, they stack the loose material inside the hole. Ryukyu mice are indicated by little mounds of soil behind dike holes in Thailand’s diked rice fields. Every hole represents the entrance to a tunnel that rises to a nest chamber above the water and then descends to another aperture on the opposite side of the dike. 
  • Although most forest species build their nests in rock cracks or under decaying tree trunks and brush piles on the forest floor, they can also burrow. For instance, the gray-bellied pygmy mouse (M. triton) of sub-Saharan Africa follows the routes left by larger rodents instead of digging burrows.
  • Diet varies on the species. On the outside, the mouse eats seeds and insects. While within the house, it eats almost everything digestible. Most other species consume a combination of plant parts (particularly seeds), insects, and other invertebrates.
  • For instance, the stomachs of gray-bellied pygmy mice captured in East Africa contained worms, plant fragments, bark fragments, and insects, primarily adult beetles. Meanwhile, mice can reproduce all year round in southern latitudes or just during the wet seasons. 
  • Except for the house mouse, which can have up to 14 litters a year (with one to twelve offspring in each litter), nothing is known about the reproductive biology of most species. The tiny Indian field mouse (M. booduga) breeds all year round in the country’s deserts, producing one to thirteen offspring per litter. It has been noted that the fawn-colored mouse (M. cervicolor) gives birth to litters of two to six offspring in July and December in Southeast Asia. Pygmy mice in East Africa give birth to two to eight young litters each year during the rainy seasons, which run from April to June and September to December.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT

  • Mus species are all native to Eurasia and Africa, where they can be found in plains or on mountaintops. The subgenus Pyromys includes five species found in Sri Lanka, India, and the continental of Southeast Asia.
  • Most of their natural habitat consisted of open meadows or grassy patches in woods. Shortridge mouse (M. shortridgei) has been discovered dwelling amid tall grasses and pygmy bamboo growing within teak woods in Thailand.
  • The subgenus Coelomys has five species that live in tropical evergreen lowland and mountain forests in Sri Lanka, southern India, coastal Southeast Asia, Sumatra, and Java. They thrive in the forest understory in moist or chilly areas, frequently near streams and other water sources, or in wet, mossy habitats at high elevations. Little is known about their behavior or ecology. 
  • Their muzzles are tapered and shrew-like, with small eyes. Three of the species’ dark brown furs are woolly or velvety, while the others are spiky. Their meal is most likely made up of invertebrates, which they find by probing their noses into the damp leaf litter and moss that blanket the forest floor.
  • The nine members of the subgenus Mus can be found in a variety of habitats across sparsely cultivated deserts, steppes, rocky slopes, broad grasslands and grassy areas in tropical pine forests, fallow fields and croplands at the poles, and rice fields in the Asian tropics.
  • Four of these creatures, including the domestic mouse, have spread outside their normal ranges due to human activity. The earth-colored mouse is endemic to peninsular India, Nepal, and Pakistan but has been imported to northern Sumatra. 
  • The fawn-colored mouse is native to mainland Southeast Asia and southern China, although it has also been found in rice fields in Sumatra and Java, where it was most likely introduced.
  • Some species, such as the gray-bellied pygmy mouse (M. triton), appear confined to specific habitats, but others are more flexible. Pygmy mice, for example, can live in broad sandy ground, savannas, woods, and, on occasion, buildings. This subgenus contains the most efficient burrowers: Thomas’s pygmy mouse (M. sorella) and its relatives have prominent upper incisors, more extended claws than most Mus species, and shorter tails in proportion to body length.
  • The 19 species of the Nannomys subgenus live in various habitats throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, including sandy and rocky arid regions, open grasslands, scrub, dry and wet savannas, lowland to highland tropical forests, and agricultural areas.

GENERAL FEATURES

  • Mice have a thin body, a blunt or tapering nose, thinly hairy, prominent ears, narrow hind feet with bare soles, and sharp, tiny claws. The thinly furred tail appears hairless; it may be roughly the same length as the head and body or somewhat shorter. One of the largest is the flat-haired mouse (M. platythrix) of peninsular India, which weighs around 18 grams (0.6 ounces), with a body length of 10 to 12 cm (4 to 4.7 inches) and a shorter tail (7 to 8 cm [2.8 to 3.1 inches]. 
  • The smallest is most likely the sub-Saharan African pygmy mouse (M. minutoides), which weighs 3 to 12 grams (0.11 to 0.42 ounces), has a body length of 6 to 8 cm (2.3 to 3.1 inches), and a short tail of 3 to 6 cm (1.2 to 2.3 inches).
  • Mus species vary greatly in terms of fur texture and color. The spiny-furred species of the subgenus Pyromys are at one extreme, with upper parts and undersides covered with flat, channeled spikes nestled in soft underfur. 
  • Shrew mice from Sumatra (M. crociduroides) and Java (M. vulcani) have soft, short, and dense coats that resemble woolly or velvety.
  • Many mice have gray to brown upper parts, white underparts, white feet, and a black above-and-white-below tail. Upper parts can be buff, blue-gray, blackish-gray, reddish brown, or chocolate brown, while underparts range from white to various hues of gray, often tinged with silver or buff. The feet can be white or the same color as the upper parts, while the tail can be bicolored or consistently dark gray to dark brown.

CLASSIFICATION

  • Mus species are classified as Old World rats and mice (Murinae) in the genus Muridae of the Rodentia order. Their nearest living relative is the stripe-backed mouse (Muriculus imberbis), restricted to Ethiopia’s mountains. Mus’ evolutionary history spans a period of six million years to the late Miocene Epoch in Asia, 3 million to 4 million years to the Pliocene Epoch in Africa and Europe, and 11,700 to 2.6 million years through the Pleistocene Epoch in the Mediterranean. 
  • Based on living and fossil species studies, researchers believe Mus originated in central Asia more than 11 million years ago, evolved into several fossil and living Asian species, went into Africa around 5 million years ago, and eventually reached Europe and the Mediterranean.

Mouse Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Mouse across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Mice. Mice are primarily nocturnal in their natural environments, though some will sometimes go out for food during the day. Though several species can jump, climb, and swim effectively, they are terrestrial animals.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Mouse Facts
  2. Trap or False?
  3. FUN Facts about Mice
  4. 2F: Form and Function
  5. House vs. Wood
  6. The Prey and Predator
  7. Ask A Mouse Expert!
  8. Stagelife of a Mouse
  9. #ReadingIsMice
  10. As Effective Breeders
  11. A Mice Adventure

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the common types of mice found in households?

The most common types of mice found in households are the house mouse (Mus musculus) and the field mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus). House mice are small, with a light brown or grey color, while field mice are slightly larger with longer tails and can have a reddish-brown hue.

How do mice communicate?

Mice communicate using a combination of vocalizations, body language, and pheromones. They produce ultrasonic sounds that are often beyond the range of human hearing. These sounds are used in mating calls, to signal distress, or to establish territory. Pheromones play a significant role in their social interactions and help in marking territory, recognizing each other, and signaling reproductive status.

What do mice typically eat?

Mice are omnivores and have a varied diet. They commonly eat grains, seeds, fruits, and vegetables, but they can also consume insects, small animals, and human food scraps. In a household setting, they are attracted to foods like cereals, bread, and peanut butter

How can you prevent a mouse infestation in your home?

To prevent a mouse infestation, you should:

  • Seal any cracks or holes in walls, floors, and foundations.
  • Keep food in airtight containers and clean up spills immediately.
  • Ensure garbage is properly sealed and disposed of regularly.
  • Remove clutter and debris where mice might hide or nest.
  • Use natural repellents such as peppermint oil or ultrasonic devices to deter mice.

How fast do mice reproduce, and what is their lifespan?

Mice reproduce very quickly. A female mouse can start reproducing at around 6-8 weeks old and can have a litter of 4-12 pups every three weeks. This can result in up to 150 offspring in a single year. The average lifespan of a house mouse in the wild is about one year due to predators and harsh conditions, but in a protected environment, they can live up to two or three years.

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Link will appear as Mouse Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 3, 2024

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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