AnimalsThe house mouse has followed people to almost every part of the world. It is active mainly at night, has keen hearing and smell, and breeds very quickly.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Mus musculus
- Group
- Mammals
- Diet
- Omnivore (eats plants and animals)
- Lives in
- Worldwide, with people
- Habitat
- Houses, farms and fields
- A young one is called
- pup
- A group is called
- mischief or nest
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
How it is classified
Scientists sort living things into groups within groups. Reading down, each step is a smaller group, ending with the species itself.
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Mammalia
- Order Rodentia
- Family Muridae
- Genus Mus
- Species Mus musculus
More distant relatives in the order Rodentia: Indian crested porcupine, Indian palm squirrel, North American beaver.
Classification follows the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Other reference works arrange some groups differently. How classification works.
Is it in danger?
The house mouse is listed as Least Concern. The species is widespread or numerous enough that it is not considered at risk of extinction at present.
This is the IUCN Red List category as recorded in Wikidata on 11 November 2026. The IUCN Red List itself is the authority and may carry a newer assessment. What the categories mean.