What is the name of a mouse with red eyes? - briefly
It is commonly called the red‑eyed mouse.
What is the name of a mouse with red eyes? - in detail
The mouse characterized by red irises is commonly referred to as a red‑eyed albino mouse. In laboratory settings this phenotype appears in several genetically defined strains:
- BALB/c J – an inbred albino line whose lack of pigment results in pink‑to‑red eyes.
- C57BL/6 J – a pigmented strain that can exhibit a red‑eye mutation when crossed with albino carriers.
- CD‑1 ICR – an outbred albino stock, also displaying red‑colored eyes due to melanin deficiency.
These mice are distinct from typical pigmented varieties, which have dark brown or black irises. The red coloration arises because the eye’s blood vessels are visible through the unpigmented sclera and retina. In scientific literature the descriptive term “red‑eyed mouse” is used to denote any murine specimen lacking ocular melanin, regardless of its specific genetic background.
Beyond the laboratory, the term appears in popular culture. The cartoon character Red‑Eyed Mouse from the 1990s animated series “The Adventures of the Little Mouse” is named for the same ocular trait, though the character is fictional and bears no relation to the biological phenotype.
In summary, the designation for a mouse with red eyes is “red‑eyed albino mouse,” applied to both laboratory strains lacking eye pigment and to fictional representations that emphasize the striking iris color.