What are mice called? - briefly
The species Mus musculus is commonly known as the house mouse. In scientific literature it is referred to as Mus musculus, while the everyday term remains simply “mouse.”
What are mice called? - in detail
Mice are generally referred to as “mouse” in singular and “mice” in plural, following standard English pluralization rules. In scientific classification they belong to the family Muridae, subfamily Murinae, and the most common species, the house mouse, is identified as Mus musculus. This binomial nomenclature provides a universal label for researchers worldwide.
Regional vernacular varies:
- United Kingdom and Ireland: “field mouse” for wild species, “house mouse” for domestic forms.
- United States and Canada: “mouse” for both wild and domesticated, with “field mouse” used for non‑commensal species.
- Australia: “mouse” for native Pseudomys species, “house mouse” for introduced Mus musculus.
- Southern Africa: “gerbil” sometimes applied loosely to small desert rodents, though gerbils belong to a different genus (Gerbillus).
In specialized contexts the term expands:
- Laboratory research: “laboratory mouse” denotes strains bred for experimental use, such as C57BL/6 or BALB/c.
- Pet industry: “pet mouse” often describes dwarf varieties like the Fancy mouse, selected for coat color and size.
- Culinary references: “mouse” may appear in historical recipes, though modern usage prefers “rat” for larger species.
The word also appears in idiomatic expressions, for example “quiet as a mouse” and “mouse‑pad”, where the animal serves as a metaphor rather than a taxonomic reference.