African Pygmy Mouse
From Free net encyclopedia
{{Taxobox
| color = pink | name = African Pygmy Mouse | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Mammalia | ordo = Rodentia | superfamilia = Muroidea | familia = Muridae | genus = Mus | species = M. minutoides | binomial = Mus minutoides | binomial_authority = (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 20 and 45 mm long with a 20 to 40 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. The lifespan is about 2 years.