Mouse

A mouse (pl. mice) is a small mammal of the order Rodentia.

Any one of numerous species of small rodents belonging to the genus Mus and various related genera of the family Muridæ. The common house mouse (Mus musculus) is found in nearly all countries. The American white-footed mouse (Hesperomys peromyscus), and the deer mouse (Hesperomys leucopus) sometimes live in houses. These species of mice live commensally with humans.

Mice are popular as pets; special varieties of mice, especially albino ones, are also bred as laboratory specimens. In the 2006 Biosatellite project, for example, a group of mice-astronauts will orbit Earth inside a spinning spacecraft to learn what its like to live on Mars. [1]

However, mice can also be harmful pests, damaging and eating crops and spreading diseases through their parasites and feces. The domestication of cats is thought to have been for their predation of mice and their relatives, the rats.

Famous cartoon mice include: Mickey Mouse, Jerry of Tom and Jerry, Pinky and the Brain, and Itchy of Itchy and Scratchy, a show-within-a-show on The Simpsons. See also List of fictional mice.

External links

• Mouse@Horns 'The Pet Mouse FAQ'

Referenced By