African pygmy mouse
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2023) |
| African pygmy mouse | |
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| Photographed in Western Cape | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Mus |
| Species: | M. minutoides
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| Binomial name | |
| Mus minutoides (A Smith, 1834)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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The African pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides) is one of the smallest rodents. It is widespread within sub-Saharan Africa, and is kept as a pet in other parts of the world. Like the common and widely introduced european house mouse, it is a member of the enormous superfamily Muroidea, which includes over 1000 different species. It forms a super- species complex with Mus musculoides.[1]
Grey to brick-red overall, it is pale on the underside and has small but prominent triangular ears. Adult body length averages 50 mm (2.0 in) long, with a 40 mm (1.6 in) tail. Average adults body weight is 5 g (0.18 oz).[2]
The African pygmy mouse reaches breeding age at about 6 to 8 weeks. Pregnancy lasts for around 20 days and the litter of about three young is born blind and hairless. Average weight of puppies at birth is 0.8 g (0.028 oz)[3] Their eyes open after 2 weeks, and weaning is complete after 3 weeks. The lifespan is about 2 years, although individual specimens have been reported to live over 4 years in captivity.[citation needed]
The African pygmy mouse has a number of unique traits. It stacks pebbles in front of its burrow. Overnight, the pebbles gather dew and in the morning, the pygmy mouse drinks the dew on the pebbles. After that, it retires to its den. Its method of sex determination has also been found to differ from most mammals[4] in that rearrangements of the X chromosome have led to many XY individuals actually being female.
The species lives in colonies or in pairs in grass close to water and is an excellent climber.[citation needed]
As pets
[edit] Pygmy mice are often kept as pets, but require social interaction, so should always be kept in pairs or small colonies. They have fairly simple care needs and are active both day and night, but due to their small size and tendency to jump when startled, they cannot be handled due to the risk of accidentally causing internal damage. Despite their size, they can jump up to {cvt|45|cm}}. As pets, they are usually kept in a closed aquarium to prevent escape. African pygmy mice should be fed at least 3 gallons per individual, and are very social, so at least 2 individuals should be fed.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Child, M.F. & Monadjem, A. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Mus minutoides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T13970A115117374. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T13970A22405371.en. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
- ^ "Afrikanische Zwergmaus – Tiergarten Schönbrunn". www.zoovienna.at (in German). Retrieved 2025-03-20.
- ^ Kingdon, Jonathan; Happold, David; Butynski, Thomas; Hoffmann, Michael; Happold, Meredith; Kalina, Jan (2013-05-23). Mammals of Africa. A&C Black. ISBN 978-1-4081-8996-2.
- ^ Frederic Veyrunes; Pascale Chevret; et al. (2010). "A novel sex determination system in a close relative of the house mouse". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 277 (1684): 1049–1056. doi:10.1098/rspb.2009.1925. PMC 2842770. PMID 20007182.
- ^ "Animal Library: Pygmy Mice - Millermeade Farm's Critter Connection: Animal Library: Pygmy Mice". www.critterconnection.cc. Retrieved 2025-05-28.