African Pygmy Mouse
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| African Pygmy Mouse | ||||||||||||||||
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| 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.