Where do house mice come from? - briefly
House mice originated from the Eurasian wild mouse (Mus musculus) and expanded worldwide through human commerce and travel. Their range now covers virtually every inhabited continent.
Where do house mice come from? - in detail
The house mouse (Mus musculus) originated in the arid and semi‑arid regions of South Asia, with fossil evidence dating back 1–2 million years. Genetic analyses separate three primary subspecies—M. m. domesticus (Western Europe and North Africa), M. m. musculus (Eastern Europe and central Asia), and M. m. castaneus (Southeast Asia). These lineages diverged during the Pleistocene, adapting to distinct climatic niches.
Human agricultural development created ideal habitats, prompting the species to expand alongside grain storage and settlements. By the Neolithic period, the mouse had begun exploiting human structures, facilitating its spread across the Mediterranean basin. Subsequent trade routes—Silk Road, Roman roads, and later trans‑Atlantic voyages—accelerated dispersal to the Americas, Africa, and Oceania.
Modern distribution reflects three overlapping colonization waves:
- Early agricultural expansion – establishment in temperate Europe and the Near East.
- Medieval trade – penetration into northern Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia.
- Global maritime commerce – introduction to the New World, sub‑Saharan Africa, and remote islands.
Mitochondrial DNA studies show extensive hybridization among subspecies where their ranges overlap, creating admixed populations in many urban centers. The species’ rapid reproductive cycle, opportunistic diet, and tolerance of human‑made environments sustain its global presence.
In summary, the house mouse evolved in South Asia, diversified into three principal subspecies, and achieved worldwide distribution through successive associations with human agriculture, trade, and transportation networks.