What are the species of mouse called? - briefly
Examples of mouse species include the house mouse (Mus musculus), the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), the field mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus), and the wood mouse (Apodemus flavicollis). Each belongs to a different genus within the Muridae family.
What are the species of mouse called? - in detail
Mice belong to the order Rodentia, family Muridae, subfamily Murinae. The taxonomic rank proceeds from genus to species, each identified by a binomial Latin name.
Common representatives include:
- Mus musculus – the house mouse, worldwide commensal.
- Mus minutoides – African pygmy mouse, one of the smallest rodents.
- Micromys minutus – harvest mouse, noted for its long tail and grassland habitat.
- Apodemus sylvaticus – wood mouse, native to Europe and western Asia.
- Apodemus flavicollis – yellow‑necked mouse, found in forested regions of Europe.
- Peromyscus maniculatus – deer mouse, prevalent in North America.
- Peromyscus leucopus – white‑footed mouse, common in eastern United States.
- Peromyscus gossypinus – cotton mouse, inhabits southeastern United States.
- Acomys cahirinus – Cairo spiny mouse, distinguished by bristly fur.
- Mus spicilegus – mound‑building mouse, constructs underground nests in Eastern Europe.
Each entry follows the Linnaean system: genus (capitalized) plus specific epithet (lowercase). Scientific names are italicized and uniquely identify a species, avoiding ambiguity that common names may cause.
The genus Mus contains several laboratory and wild species, while Peromyscus comprises the North American deer‑mouse complex. Apodemus groups Old World field and wood mice, and Acomys includes spiny mouse species adapted to arid environments. These classifications reflect phylogenetic relationships derived from morphological and molecular analyses.