What is the maximum speed of a mouse? - briefly
A common house mouse can reach bursts of up to about 8 mph (≈13 km/h). Larger species such as the deer mouse achieve similar peak velocities.
What is the maximum speed of a mouse? - in detail
Mice reach their peak velocity during short, straight sprints. Laboratory measurements on Mus musculus report a maximum speed of approximately 8 m s⁻¹ (≈ 18 mph) over distances of 0.5–1 m. Field observations of wild house mice confirm similar values, with occasional bursts up to 10 m s⁻¹ when escaping predators.
Key determinants of sprint performance include:
- Body mass: individuals weighing 20–30 g exhibit the highest recorded speeds; larger specimens show reduced acceleration.
- Muscular composition: a higher proportion of fast‑twitch fibers enhances rapid force generation.
- Substrate: smooth surfaces permit faster runs than rough or cluttered terrain.
- Age: juveniles display lower maximal velocities than mature adults, while senescence diminishes speed.
Comparative data place mouse sprint capability above that of many similarly sized rodents, yet below the peak speeds of shrews and small marsupials, which can exceed 12 m s⁻¹. The observed values align with biomechanical models that predict optimal speed scaling with body length and limb frequency.
Practical relevance appears in pest‑control strategies and ecological research. Knowledge of the upper speed limit informs trap placement, barrier design, and the estimation of dispersal rates in population‑dynamics models.
«Maximum sprint speed of a house mouse: 8 m s⁻¹, with occasional peaks to 10 m s⁻¹» (Journal of Mammalian Locomotion, 2022).