Sub-Saharan Pygmy Mouse

The African pygmy mouse (Mus minutoides) is one of the smallest rodents. It is widespread within sub-Saharan Africa, and is kept as a pet in other parts of the world. Like the common and widely introduced European house mouse, it is a member of the enormous superfamily Muroidea, which includes over 1000 different species. It forms a super- species complex with Mus musculoides. Grey to brick-red overall, it is pale on the underside and has small but prominent triangular ears. Adult body length averages 50 mm (2.0 in) long, with a 40 mm (1.6 in) tail. Average adults body weight is 5 g (0.18 oz). The African pygmy mouse reaches breeding age at about 6 to 8 weeks. Pregnancy lasts for around 20 days and the litter of about three young is born blind and hairless. Average weight of puppies at birth is 0.8 g (0.028 oz) Their eyes open after 2 weeks, and weaning is complete after 3 weeks. The lifespan is about 2 years, although individual specimens have been reported to live over 4 years in captivity. The African pygmy mouse has a number of unique traits. It stacks pebbles in front of its burrow. Overnight, the pebbles…