Mus musculus

House Mouse at Waramanga, ACT

Mus musculus at Waramanga, ACT - 12 Jan 2020 02:32 PM
Mus musculus at Waramanga, ACT - 12 Jan 2020 02:32 PM
Mus musculus at Waramanga, ACT - 12 Jan 2020 02:32 PM
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Identification history

Mus musculus 13 Jan 2020 DonFletcher
Mus musculus 13 Jan 2020 DonFletcher
Rattus rattus 12 Jan 2020 AndyRoo

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User's notes

Skeleton and fur only. Found next to unenclosed compost pit. Scull missing. Estimate total length with head would have been 250-270mm. Guessing by size was Black Rat or small Brown Rat.

4 comments

DonFletcher wrote:
   13 Jan 2020
A total length of 250-270 is too small for an adult rat of either species but is about right for a house mouse
AndyRoo wrote:
   13 Jan 2020
OK thanks Don will go with that. My initial guess at a rat (possibly juvenile) as it didn't seem to fit the CNM field guide House Mouse More Information link info which indicates a smaller total length "...House mice have an adult body length (nose to base of tail) of 7.5–10 cm (3.0–3.9 in) and a tail length of 5–10 cm (2.0–3.9 in)....". Does the info link need correction or changing?
DonFletcher wrote:
   13 Jan 2020
Yes probably. I went from the Field Companion to Mammals of Australia (Van Dyck ea 2013) which gives 135-295 mm for house mouse, and 350-450 mm for Black Rat. I better check some other sources first.
AndyRoo wrote:
   13 Jan 2020
Thanks. All good.

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Location information

Sighting information

Additional information

  • Unknown Gender

Species information

  • Mus musculus Scientific name
  • House Mouse Common name
  • Not Sensitive
  • Exotic
  • Non-invasive or negligible
  • Up to 719.6m Recorded at altitude
  • Machine learning
  • External link More information

Record quality

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  • More than one media file
  • Verified by an expert moderator
  • Nearby sighting(s) of same species
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  • Description
  • Additional attributes
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