Order RodentiaFamily Muridae• Diastema

• 1 pair incisors• Ears shorter than tail• Eyes, ears visible• Tail naked;

annulations visible• Tail not longer than

head and body• Dorsal, ventral pelage

nearly same colorRattus norvegicus

Rattus norvegicusIdentification: Ratlike size;

brown dorsum and slightly lighter venter; naked tail; little hair on ears; abdomen swollen anterior to tail (TL 315-460mm)

Distribution: Statewide

Rattus norvegicusHabitat: Almost exclusively

near human habitations; confined to 1st floor and basement in buildings

Diet: Grain, food scraps, chicken eggs, chicks

Reproduction: Up to 12 litters of as many as 12 young annually

Conservation: Introduced; common

Rattus norvegicusOther: Introduced in 1700s; damages food stores; historically significant as vector of bacterium causing bubonic plague

http://www.insecta-inspecta.com

http://www.columbia.edu

Mus Musculus

House MouseBy Heather Reynolds

Mus Musculus• Id: small mouse, grayish-brown pelage,

tail dark and nearly naked, ears naked.– Harvest Mouse: reddish back, lighter

venter.– Peromyscus: white venter.

• Distribution: statewide; Asia, Turkey-China; found anywhere from equator to sub-polar islands.

• Habitat: urban areas, old fields, disturbed areas.

• Diet: opportunistic; cereal, peanut butter, corn, seeds, insects.

Mus Musculus

• Reproduction: 18-21 day gestation, 3-16 young, several litters a year.

• Conservation Status: pest species, actively eradicated from homes and buildings.

Fame and Fortune for Mus Musculus

References for Mus Musculus• Jones, J.K. and E.C. Birney. 1988. Handbook of Mammals of the

North Central States. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 296pp.

• Kays, R. and D.E. Wilson. 2002. Mammals of North America. Princeton University Press. Princeton University, New Jersey. 112pp.

• Martin, A.C., et al. 1951. American Wildlife and Plants: A Guide to Wildlife Feeding Habits. General Publishing Co. Toronto, Ontario. 264pp.

• http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/0402/0402feature.html. 25 October 2004.

• http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/collections/mammology/mamwash/mumu.html. 25 October 2004.

Picture References for Mus Musculus

• Fancy mice: http://www.ax.sakura.ne.jp/~hy4477/link/zukan/sonota/mouse01.jpg. 25 October 2004.

• Baby mice: http://ddd.cirbus.com/images/musmus_small.jpg. 25 October 2004.

• Lab mouse: http://www.ebi.ac.uk/~magrane/mouse.gif. 25 October 2004.

• Mickey mouse: http://www.oneposter.com/userdata/poster/poster_6127.jpg. 25 October 2004.

• Tom and Jerry: http://www.gorasini.hr/e-razglednice/displayimage.php?album=lastcom&pid=51. 25 October 2004.

Order RodentiaFamily Zapodidae• Diastema

• 1 pair incisors• Ears shorter than tail• Eyes, ears visible• Tail furred• Tail much longer than

head and body• Hind feet elongate

Zapus hudsonius

Zapus hudsoniusIdentification: Pelage coarse

with dark brown dorsal band; yellowish flanks; venter white; bicolored tail

Distribution: Statewide

Habitat: Moist grassland, weedy habitats

Zapus hudsoniusDiet: Seeds, fruits, fungus,

invertebrates

Reproduction: 2 litters of 2-8 annually

Conservation: Common

Other: Hops only when scared or pursued