Which spread throughout the planet, becoming one of the most common mammals. This happened due to their ability to coexist next to humans.
Habitat
The house mouse, the photo of which is presented in this article, is actually a wild animal. It got its name for living near humans. House mice live everywhere in the world, with the exception of permafrost areas, Antarctica and high mountains. Latin name animal - Mus musculus, while a 3rd word is added to it, demonstrating the habitat area, for example, house mice that live in southeast Asia are Mus musculus castaneus. House mice also live almost everywhere in our country: Krasnodar region, Rostov region, Krasnoyarsk region, Astrakhan, etc. The only exceptions are the regions of the far north.
Lifestyle
The house mouse lives in various biotopes and landscapes, including anthropogenic landscapes. It is very closely associated with people and often inhabits outbuildings and residential buildings. In the north they carry out seasonal migrations. For example, at the end of summer, animals begin to move en masse to warm places: grain and vegetable storage facilities, residential buildings, and warehouses. The range of such migrations can reach 5 km. They often overwinter in stacks, stacks and forest belts. In the spring they leave their “winter apartments”, returning to gardens, orchards, and fields. In the south of the range they often live all year round without human habitation. In this place, house mice are attached to various reservoirs and oases.
In nature, they are nocturnal and twilight animals, but in human habitation they adapt their daily routine to the life of people. Sometimes, under artificial lighting, they remain active around the clock, reducing it only during periods of active human activity. At the same time, the activity of animals is polyphasic; there are up to 20 periods of wakefulness per day, which last up to 90 minutes. Like many other mice, they adhere to constant specific routes when moving, creating noticeable paths with small piles of dust and droppings, held together by urine.
House mice are very nimble, active animals; They run, jump, climb, and even swim well. But they do not often move far from their nest. Each mouse in nature has an individual area: for males up to 1200 m2 and for females up to 900 m2. But when large, animals settle in small family groups or colonies, consisting of a main male, several females with their children. Hierarchical relationships are always established among the members of this colony. Males are quite aggressive relative to each other, females show aggression much less often. Clashes within family groups are very rare; they mainly involve the expulsion of offspring who have already grown up.
Description
House mice are long-tailed, small rodents with an oval-shaped body, small head, beady eyes and round ears. The tail is covered with sparse hairs and ring-shaped scales. Animals that live in nature have a zonal type of color, in this case the hair at the base of their tail is brownish-brown, the middle is fawn, and the tip is painted a pale gray shade. The abdomen is colored much lighter - to white. At the same time, which were bred by selective breeding, have a huge range of colors: black, white, gray-blue, yellow, as well as colors that combine several shades. White mice are albinos, since they practically do not synthesize melanin, which is responsible for the color of tissues. Breeders also bred tailless, long-haired, short-tailed, hairless, satin and curly mice.
Character
House mice are curious, lively, cunning, intelligent, but very timid animals. Unexpected noise or sharp sounds scare them. They don't like loneliness either. Without communication and attention, house mice become sad and begin to run wild. Females are excellent mothers, and males show paternal feelings towards their offspring only if there are no other males in the cage.
Relationships with other pets
House mice are pets that can be dangerous to dogs, cats, rats and birds.
Attitude towards children
They can be started in those families in which the children are 10 years old. They want to have their “own” animal, although they have no experience in caring for one. Many people are interested in the question: “Do house mice bite or not?” It is worth noting that they are not aggressive, although they can bite until they have had time to adapt to the owners and the environment, therefore, first it is necessary to help children get acquainted with the animal, as well as tame it. Very young children should not be left alone with these miniature, yet nimble and dexterous creatures.
Education
House mice are pets that are among the smartest animals among rodents, while decorative varieties quickly get used to their owners and are perfectly tamed if they are given enough attention, while speaking affectionately and softly. They are able to remember their nickname. Mice quickly begin to recognize the scent of the person who brings food, and will greet him with a cheerful squeak. Animals can be trained to respond to various whistles and various commands, for example, “Come to me!”, “Serve!”, “Home!”
It is worth noting that scientists have been studying house mice for a long time. Kotenkova E.V. (Doctor of Biological Sciences), for example, devoted a lot of time to this issue, writing several scientific works about their behavior, as well as their role in ancient mythology.
Nutrition
House mice have a main diet of grains and seeds. They happily eat wheat, oats and millet, as well as unroasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds. They can also be given dairy products, white bread, pieces of egg white and cooked meat. The green parts of various plants can make up a third of the animal’s diet with a normal amount of water. At the same time, among succulent foods, mice prefer cabbage and dandelion leaves, slices of cucumber, beets and carrots, green grass. Mice need up to three milliliters of water during the day. In summer they can feed on insects and their larvae. Mice have a very high metabolism, therefore, they should always have food in their feeder.
You can keep a mouse at home in a fine-mesh metal cage, as well as in a special organic glass container with a lid. It is necessary because mice are excellent jumpers. The terrarium or cage must be spacious enough, since animals are very active and need movement. Strips of unpainted paper or shavings are used as bedding. A house (a jar, a box, a pot, etc.) is installed in the cage, in which the mice will arrange a nest, a drinking bowl, a feeder, a piece of chalk, as well as other devices for games. Stairs, levels, shelters, branches are suitable for this; it is also advisable to install a running wheel.
The terrarium or cage is placed as far as possible from windows, radiators, air conditioners and doors, since animals do not like temperature fluctuations, direct sun rays and drafts. Best temperature air 20°C with air humidity of 55%. Every day, garbage and leftover food are removed from the cage, and the feeders and drinking bowl are washed. The bedding is changed three times a week, at least once a month it is necessary to disinfect and completely clean the terrarium or cage. Mice feces have an unpleasant, pungent odor. At the same time, females smell much weaker than males.
In the terrarium, it is advisable to install pieces of large tree branches directly with the bark (birch, willow, rowan) so that the animals can grind their incisors on them. It must be taken into account that lilac is poisonous to these animals. You can also put wooden toys in the cage, with which the animal will play, grinding down its incisors. With well-organized housing, house mice do not need walks. If the animal does go out for a walk, then the place for its walks must be limited to the owner’s hands or a table. It must be remembered that various house plants are poisonous to mice, including aralia, yucca, kala, etc.
Such mice are evening and nocturnal animals; they can disturb sleep with the noise and various sounds they create, although they generally adapt to the human regime.
The destruction of such mice is caused by the damage they cause to human supplies, as well as equipment and household appliances.
Wild house mice, which have been fought by humans for centuries, are capable of eating almost anything. As a result, food, candles and soap, wiring, etc. become eaten away in the house.
Animals in warehouses gnaw grain, destroy crops of various root crops, eat cereal reserves, and, in addition, significantly pollute the house with the products of their vital activity. They actively excrete their waste, so even a small population can cause enormous harm. Thus, the animals do not eat the bulk of the grain, but rather pollute it.
In addition, brownies (we will learn below) are carriers huge amount pathogens various diseases. They can convey to a person coli, helminth eggs, cause plague and blood-sucking insects very often live on them, including fleas and ticks, which happily spread to humans.
Consequently, house mice can cause significant harm. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to get rid of them. Professional extermination of animals is becoming the main activity for suburban areas, private homes, catering organizations, as well as various types of institutions. This service can be ordered from specialized companies, or you can use a mousetrap the old fashioned way.
A little history
Mice are born periodically in nature. white- albinos, for whom it is almost impossible to survive, since they are very noticeable and also instantly become prey. But in ancient times in Crete they were kept in the form of living amulets that bring good luck. They were also kept in temples, where they were specially looked after by ministers. 4000 years ago in Ancient Egypt bred and kept mice, paying close attention to colored species. The Egyptians attributed supernatural abilities to them, and also depicted them on their clay vessels.
During the period of Ancient Rome and in the Middle Ages, healers used mice and rats for medicinal potions, while in Asia they are still specially bred for such purposes. With the development of veterinary medicine and experimental medicine, mice and rats began to be used for various studies like laboratory animals. It is believed that decorative and laboratory mice originate from white, spotted and black fighting mice, described in a book published in 1787. It talks about the animals that were used for fighting at that time. English merchants brought them from Japan. Subsequently, the mice formed a special line of house mice, and decorative breeds began to be bred as pets.
Currently in various countries Western Europe and America, there are Clubs for mouse lovers, the main goal of which is to breed new varieties of these animals. Most often, individuals of different colors are obtained: gray, white, red, brown, lilac or pinkish, with spots. Special exhibitions with expert assessments are held there.
But in our country, decorative mice are less known than in America and Europe, but among animal fans they are becoming more and more popular every year. Special sections have been created in clubs for lovers of various rodents decorative mice, nurseries are opened that engage in selection and breeding work, and exhibitions are also held where house decorative mice are exhibited along with other small animals.
Funny and smart rodents are one of the most common pets. At home they also keep representatives of the mouse family: decorative mice and are very popular among animal lovers. We will talk about the maintenance of decorative mice in this article.
Despite all the variety of colors of decorative mice, they are all representatives of the same species - the house mouse. Yes, the same one house mouse, which sometimes starts in our apartments and interferes with our lives. Of course, it is not “wild” rodents that are kept at home. Decorative mice were bred specifically for keeping homes and participating in exhibitions, and they began to be bred quite a long time ago - back in the early 17th century.
Now, thanks to the efforts of breeders, there are many colors of decorative mice. These include, for example, black, chocolate, white, beige, lilac, red, fawn, cinnamon, golden agouti, silver agouti, blue and others. In addition to coat color, decorative mice may differ coat pattern and type. For example, mice can be not only one color, but also spotted or with tan marks. And the coat can be short and long, smooth and curly.
So, you decided to buy yourself a funny decorative mouse. What should you pay attention to when choosing a pet? You should only buy decorative mice from reputable breeders or trustworthy pet stores. Be sure to make sure that males and females sit in different cages in the pet store. The fact is that decorative rats can become pregnant in early age, but it is harmful for the female. If males and females live in the same cage in a store, there is a high risk of purchasing a pregnant female that may not survive after giving birth.
A healthy mouse has bright, smooth and clean fur, and the skin on its tail and ears is also clean and pink.. Make sure the nose and eyes are clean, and the area under the tail and mouth are clean and dry. Ornamental mice breathe relatively frequently, but breathing should not be noisy or labored. It is better to give preference to an active animal.
Decorative mice are kept in metal cages or special plexiglass aquarium containers(a container is preferable if there is a cat at home). The cage should have frequent bars, because mice are able to crawl through even narrow holes. And the container should have a wide bottom and low sides, and it is best to cover its top with a metal mesh. Decorative mice need a spacious home, because they are very active and are almost constantly on the move.
It is best to choose a cage or container with a retractable bottom (pallet) to make cleaning your home easier. It is best to use clean soft napkins (not dyed) as filler.. But you cannot use newspapers and other colored paper. Decorative mice are shy animals, so it is better to pour more bedding in one part of the home so that the mouse can hide in it. Or you can just put up a wooden house.
The mouse cage should have a feeder, a water bowl, and a variety of toys (logs, ladders, a running wheel, etc.). Wooden toys should not have varnish or paint. You need to place the cage away from drafts, radiators and direct sunlight: decorative mice are afraid of hypothermia and overheating. Once a day you need to wash the feeder, drinker, remove garbage and excess food, and once a week - change the bedding.
What to feed decorative mice? Ornamental mice are rodents, so the basis of their diet is cereals and grains(oats, wheat, millet, corn, barley, you can buy ready-made food). You can give nuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, but rarely, because they are very fatty. You also need to give them vegetables and herbs (cucumbers, cabbage, beets, carrots, dandelion leaves and grass), non-acidic and non-exotic berries and fruits. It is advisable to grow the grass yourself or collect it away from roads.
In the diet decorative rats must be present and source of animal protein, it can be low-fat cottage cheese, unsalted boiled chicken, a hard-boiled egg. For grinding down constantly growing incisors It is useful to give chalk, crackers, and tree branches (fruit trees, birch, willow). It is forbidden to give branches of lilac and resinous trees! Food from your table is also prohibited - fatty, fried, smoked, spicy, sweet.
Decorative mice are active mainly in the evening and at night; during the day they sleep. They are social animals that require a lot of attention.. So if you cannot play with your pet often, it makes sense to get two mice of the same sex (preferably females). You should tame your pet gradually - decorative mice are afraid of loud sounds and sudden movements. You need to take the mouse in your hands carefully; you should not grab it by the tail.
Decorative mice - cute and funny pets, which quickly become attached to a person. The main thing is to follow all the rules of keeping so that your pet is healthy and happy.
Scientists have been able to identify a lot of different rodents, they live in different parts planets. They are not found only on the coldest continents, but on the rest they live.
Among them, people's favorites are hamsters, since they are often found at home, although they live freely in nature, as well as rats, which are also often pets or live in people's houses without their permission, voles and ordinary mice.
The latter are especially disliked by people, since they often destroy winter supplies and are considered dangerous carriers of diseases.
Usually people have difficulty distinguishing rodents and cannot always tell exactly who is in front of them. But this is not surprising in the case of mice, since among them there are approximately 400 different species.
Outwardly, they are all very similar, and behave almost identically. The animal mouse is famous for its incredible cunning and is difficult to catch. People have been fighting for centuries, primarily with this representative of rodents.
What are the external features of the mouse?
Nowadays, many photos of mice are taken, and they are easy to find on the Internet. Due to this, it is possible to accurately determine what species a mouse that appears on human territory belongs to.
Usually its body does not exceed 10 cm, moreover, about half the size is the tail. This small process is always bare, and it is difficult to detect the presence of hairs on it. At the same time, the body is completely covered with hair of a uniform color.
Mice are brown, sometimes brown, and gray ones are common. Scientists have discovered mice that have stripes running down their backs.
However, there are two unique species that have spines that replace fur. We are talking about Elliott the mouse and the so-called spiny species. The fur of these strange creatures is replaced by needles similar to thorns, like those of a cactus.
What are the features of a pin mouse?
The types of mice are very diverse, however, this mouse stands out noticeably among them because, in addition to its unique coating, it has almost no neck, and its paws, although short in size, have fingers that help to stay on various surfaces.
How are mice different from other rodents?
If you carry out detailed description mice, it is important to note that they have excellent hearing, allowing them to detect sounds of various tones. To do this, they use ears that are rounded in shape.
On the small pointed muzzle you can notice the presence of antennae called vibrissae. Thanks to this important organ, mice are able to navigate perfectly, even in the dark. However, they do not have pouches behind their cheeks.
Most species of mice do not like to climb trees, however, they easily move on the basis of grass stems growing in meadows. And also for this they use reeds or small branches of bushes.
Among them, the smallest individual was identified; it was named “baby”, since it has a body size of only 5 cm.
Where do different types of mice live?
Due to the characteristics of the body, this animal was able to take root in any place. In most cases, they use the surface of the earth to live, however, some species have good skills in moving along vertical surfaces.
Where do mice live and how can humans meet them? Usually, people most often encounter two types of these rodents, since only the Cairo or house mouse lives near human buildings.
Some mice like to live near various bodies of water, and they swim tolerably well. They do not like to have couples and usually live alone.
However, a subspecies of the house mouse, called the Kurganchik mouse, likes to start a family of up to 20 individuals living in a common burrow. They create common reserves for wintering and build nests necessary for life.
Most mice like to live in a permanent place. They leave their inhabited area only if necessary due to some changes environment. However, they usually do not move far, since they do not have the desire to look for a long time for a new place to live.
What do mice like to eat?
In cold weather, it is difficult to detect at least one mouse, since they are under a layer of snow, which creates protection for them from frost. Usually their reserves are not enough for wintering and mice have to look for food even under the snow.
Trying to answer the question of what mice eat, it is necessary to immediately identify their favorite food in the form of seeds and various plant fruits.
Because of this different kinds meadow and steppe mice are considered serious pests of grain reserves of various cereal plants grown by people.
However, mice that prefer to live near various sources of water mostly feed on lush greens, various root vegetables and even insects. And wood mice use nuts and discovered seeds from deciduous tree species for food.
Although for the most part they can use everything for food, and even products from the set of ordinary human food. They often settle in barns, various storerooms and use grains, cheeses or other products as food. Sometimes they even take a small bite of sausages and dried fish.
Photo of a mouse
IN modern world is becoming increasingly popular keeping decorative mice. This trend is due to the fact that such pets do not require much space and care, and most of them have a rather funny character.
Description and features of decorative mice
Decorative mice They belong to the group of rodents and are therefore quite fertile. They prefer a nocturnal lifestyle. Home decorative mice They attract attention because they calmly go into the arms of the owner and even get joy from playing with him.
Siamese decorative mouse
Hairless mice are becoming increasingly popular - hair is so short that it seems as if it is absent altogether. Below are photo of decorative mice various colors.
The photo shows a naked decorative mouse
It is advisable to keep these pets in a metal cage or in a special glass terrarium (be sure to close it at the top with a mesh). Glass and metal are ideal options for such animals, since in the case of a wooden dwelling, they will simply gnaw through it and then squeeze through the crack.
It is advisable to choose a home for the mouse where he will have a lot of free time, this is due to the fact that these animals are quite mobile and cannot sit still. At the bottom of the mouse’s home, it is necessary to line it with shavings or paper (it should under no circumstances be painted).
To prevent your pet from getting bored, it is advisable to purchase and install various toys in his house - a running ring, a potty, branches, ladders. The mouse's house must be located at a decent distance from hot radiators and windows, especially if they are constantly open.
Every day, excrement should be removed from your pet's cage and various kinds garbage, it is necessary to wash the feeder and provide clean water. Twice a week, the shavings or paper placed on the bottom of the cage are replaced. Regardless breeds of decorative mice They don’t immediately get used to new people, so you shouldn’t expect that the mouse will go into your arms immediately after purchasing it.
In order not to emotionally traumatize your pet, you need to equip its home in such a way that it has the opportunity to hide in a corner. When moving to a new place of residence, it spends most of its time in the shelter, leaving it only for meals.
It should be remembered that mice are group animals and without communication they close in on themselves and may even die of boredom. Therefore, if there is only one mouse in your house, you should devote some time to him every day.
Decorative mouse care, which includes concern for her emotional condition, will live much longer. While feeding your pet, it is strictly forbidden to make sudden movements or raise your voice. If you follow these rules, then soon the animal will begin to recognize its owner and will gladly go into his arms.
Nutrition
One of the frequently asked questions when purchasing this type of pet is “ what to feed decorative mice" The answer is simple - almost everyone. indiscriminate in food. They love these products:
- corn;
- oats;
- barley;
- corn.
Occasionally you can treat them with a small amount of seeds. Their favorite dishes are curd products, cheese and egg whites (boiled). It should be remembered that these pets, like any other living organisms, require useful material, so you need to buy dry food for them.
Due to the fact that rodents have a very high metabolism, it is necessary to constantly monitor the fullness of the feeder. To reduce the likelihood of dental problems, you should provide mice with twigs from fruit trees, they will grind their teeth on them. Under no circumstances should plants such as:
- wolfberries;
- bracken fern;
- nightshade;
- dope.
The elements contained in the above plants are dangerous to the health of mice and can lead to immediate death.
Reproduction and lifespan of ornamental mice
One more topical issue Today it is considered " How long do decorative mice live?" When answering this question, you need to start from the type of mice, for example, Japanese decorative mice, have a lifespan of barely two years. But for whites this period reaches five years. Regarding the appearance of little mice, everything is simple here; reproduction occurs throughout the whole year. At the age of 35–40 days, mice are ready to breed.
At the same time, maturation in males is slightly slower than in females. Decorative mice produce litters of up to 15 babies at a time. It is advisable to bring a female together with a male only at the age of 3 months, not earlier than and after the mother has fed the babies, and again to bring her together with a male, also not earlier than 3 months.
The female needs to recover. To do this, the male is placed in another cage before birth to avoid re-fertilization immediately after birth. And he cuckoos alone for three months. Labor can begin during the day. And in the evening. And at night. Two weeks after the birth of baby mice, you should not touch them with your hands, you should not scare the mother mouse and it is better not to get into the cage at all. You need to feed intensively.
On the 14th day, it is necessary to accustom them to handling, but very carefully: this is the “flea” period - the mice jump like fleas and can easily slip out of your hands. As a result of the information received, it can be noted that, despite the hostility towards ordinary mice, decorative breeds simply won the hearts of people. Besides price of decorative mice varies from 50 to 500 rubles, which gives almost everyone the opportunity to take on a new family member.
A mouse is a small animal that belongs to the class Mammals, order Rodents, family Mouse (Muridae).
Mouse - description, characteristics and photos. What does a mouse look like?
The length of the mouse’s body, covered with short fur, varies from 5 to 19 cm, depending on the species, and doubles with the tail. These rodents have quite short neck. The pointed muzzle shows small black beady eyes and small semicircular ears, allowing the mice to hear well. Thin and sensitive whiskers growing around the nose give them the ability to perfectly navigate their surroundings. Mice, unlike mice, do not have cheek pouches.
The mouse's paws are short with five prehensile toes. The surface of the tail is covered with keratinized scales with sparse hairs. The color of the mouse is usually characterized by gray, brown or red tones, but there are variegated and striped individuals, as well as white mice. Animals lead an active lifestyle in the evening or at night. They communicate with each other using a thin squeak.
Types of mice, names and photos
The mouse family includes 4 subfamilies, 147 genera and 701 species, the most common of which are:
- (Apodemus agrarius)
reaches 12.5 cm in size, not counting the tail, which can be up to 9 cm long. The color of the back of the mouse is gray, with a slight yellowish-brown tint and a dark stripe running along the ridge, and the belly is light gray. The habitat of the field mouse includes Germany, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland, Bulgaria, the southern part of Western Siberia and Primorye, Mongolia, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula and certain territories of China. This species of mice lives in wide meadows, in dense thickets of bushes, city gardens and parks, and makes a refuge both in burrows and in any natural shelters. In flooded areas it builds nests on bushes. Depending on the season, the diet may consist of seeds, berries, green parts of plants and various insects. The field mouse is the main pest of grain crops.
- (Apodemus flavicollis)
has a reddish-gray color and a light belly (sometimes with a small spot yellow color). The body size of adult individuals reaches 10-13 cm, the tail has approximately the same length. The mouse weighs about 50 grams. This type of mouse is widespread in the forests of Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Caucasus, the northern provinces of China and Altai. Yellow-throated mice live on open edges in hollow trees or dug holes, but they can also live in rocky areas. Their diet includes both plant and animal foods. By eating young shoots of fruit trees, they cause significant harm to nurseries.
- Grass mouse (Nilotic grass mouse) (Arvicanthis niloticus)
is one of the largest representatives of the mouse family and can reach 19 cm in length, and with the tail - 35 cm. The weight of individual large individuals exceeds 100 g. The fur of the back and sides is dark gray or grayish-brown in color with some hard and prickly bristles of a darker shade. The belly color is light gray. This type of mouse is most common in African countries, where they live in bushes, forests and savannas. As a refuge, grass mice choose abandoned termite mounds or dig holes on their own, but on occasion they can enter human habitation. The basis of the diet of mice is plant food.
- (Micromys minutus)
is one of the smallest rodents in the world. The body length of an adult animal does not exceed 7 cm, the tail - 6.5 cm, and the weight of the baby does not exceed 10 g. The back and sides are plain and have a reddish-brown or brown color, in contrast to the light gray, almost white belly. The muzzle of baby mice is short and blunt, with small ears. The distribution area of this species of mice stretches from west to east from the northwestern provinces of Spain to Korea and Japan, in the south to Kazakhstan, China and the northern regions of Mongolia. The mouse lives in forest and forest-steppe zones, in meadows with tall grass. In the summer, mice use nests made in the grass as shelter, and overwinter in burrows, haystacks, and human residential or outbuildings. The basis of the diet of baby mice is the seeds of cereals and legumes, as well as small insects. They often settle near granaries, causing enormous damage to agriculture.
- (Mus musculus)
the most widespread species of the rodent family on the planet. The body length of an adult mouse does not exceed 9.5 cm, and together with the tail - 15 cm. The weight of the mouse is 12-30 g. The color of the fur on the sides and back is gray with a brown tint, and on the abdomen from light gray to white. Individuals living in desert areas are sandy in color. The mouse's muzzle is sharp with small rounded ears. The distribution range of this species of mice does not include only the territory of the Far North, Antarctica and high mountain regions. House mice live in all types of landscapes and natural areas, and very often penetrate into human outbuildings and residential buildings. IN natural conditions They dig minks on their own, although they can also occupy homes abandoned by other rodents. They feed on seeds and juicy green parts of plants, and once they enter a person’s home, they eat everything they can get their teeth into – from bread and sausages to paraffin candles.
- (Lemniscomys striatus)
small rodent: body length 10-15 cm, intermittent stripes of light colors are visible along the back and along the sides. IN natural conditions striped mice rarely live more than 6-7 months; in captivity they live two to three times longer. The menu of these individuals includes mainly plant “dishes”: root vegetables, soft seeds, juicy fruits, and occasionally small insects.
- (akomis) (Acomys)
a rather handsome representative of the mouse family, the owner of huge eyes and equally large ears. The size of the spiny mouse, including its tail, is 13-26 cm; the back of the animal is covered with thin needles, like a regular mouse. An amazing feature of these animals is regeneration: when in danger, the mouse is able to shed a piece of skin, leaving the attacker bewildered. Skin covering quickly recovers without damage to the individual. The spiny mouse lives in Asian countries and is found in Cyprus and Africa. Its diet relies on plant foods; this animal is often kept as a pet.
Where does the mouse live?
The distribution range of mice covers almost all climatic zones, zones and continents of the globe. Mouse representatives can be found in tropical thickets, coniferous or deciduous forests, steppes and deserts, on mountain slopes or in swampy areas. Mice also live in people's homes.
Mice can make nests from grass stems, occupy abandoned holes, or dig complex systems underground passages. Unlike species that live in swamps, mountain, steppe and forest mice swim poorly.
What does a mouse eat?
The basis of the diet of mice is plant food: grass seeds, fruits of trees or shrubs and cereals (oats, barley, millet, buckwheat). Mice that live in swampy areas, wet and flooded meadows, feed on leaves, buds or flowers of plants and shrubs. Some types of mice prefer a protein supplement as insects, worms, beetles, spiders. The mouse does not hibernate in winter and can move under the snow crust without appearing on the surface.
To survive the cold, she has to create substantial food reserves in pantries located near the entrance to the burrow.
