African Pygmy Mouse

African Pygmy Mouse
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: Animalia : Chordata : Mammalia : Rodentia : Muroidea : Muridae : Murinae : Mus : minutoides
Binomial name
Mus minutoides (A Smith, 1834)

The African Pygmy Mouse, (Mus minutoides) is possibly the smallest of all rodents and one of the smallest mammals. It is widespread within sub-Saharan Africa, and is kept as a pet in other parts of the world. Like the common House Mouse, it is a member of the enormous superfamily Muroidea, which includes about 1000 different species.

Grey to brick-red overall, it is pale on the underside and has small but prominent triangular ears. Adults are between 45 and 85 mm long with a 30 to 60 mm tail, and weigh from 3 to 12 grams.

African Pygmy Mice reach breeding age at about 6 to 8 weeks. Pregnancy lasts for around 20 days and the litter of about 3 young is born blind and hairless. Their eyes open after 2 weeks, and weaning is complete after 4 weeks. Lifespan is about 2 years.