What other names are mice known by? - briefly
Common alternative names include field mouse, house mouse, wood mouse, and the scientific genus Mus. These terms differ according to species and typical habitat.
What other names are mice known by? - in detail
Mice are referred to by a variety of terms that differ by species, region, and context. The most common alternatives include:
- House mouse – the species Mus musculus that lives in human dwellings.
- Field mouse – any of several wild species, such as Apodemus sylvaticus, that inhabit open fields and grasslands.
- Wood mouse – Apodemus sylvaticus in particular, noted for its agility in forested areas.
- Deer mouse – Peromyscus maniculatus, a North‑American species associated with prairie and forest habitats.
- Dormouse – members of the family Gliridae, distinguished by their larger size and long tail, often found in hedgerows and trees.
- Muskrat – although technically a rodent of the genus Ondatra, the name is sometimes colloquially conflated with mice.
- Vole – small, burrowing rodents of the genus Microtus; while not true mice, the term is occasionally used interchangeably in lay language.
- Lab mouse – genetically standardized strains used in scientific research, commonly C57BL/6 or BALB/c.
- Pet mouse – domesticated individuals kept as companion animals, frequently of the fancy mouse variety.
Regional dialects add further variations. In British English, “mus” may appear in informal speech; in some Slavic languages, “myš” translates directly to “mouse.” Historical literature sometimes employs “little rat” to describe small murine specimens.
Scientific classification distinguishes mice from related rodents by dental formula, skull morphology, and chromosome count, ensuring precise identification despite the plethora of common names.