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Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which species of Mus are known to have been introduced beyond their natural ranges by humans?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Illustration of a house mouse, Mus musculus, showing a small, brownish-gray rodent with large ears, a pointed nose, and a long tail. A scale above indicates its length is about 10 centimeters or 4 inches.
mouse

Within the genus Mus, four species are known to have dispersed beyond their natural ranges due to human settlement and activity. These species include:1

  • House mouse (Mus musculus): Native to Eurasia, this species has been introduced worldwide through its close association with humans, thriving in environments ranging from buildings to agricultural fields.21
  • Earth-coloured mouse (Mus terricolor): While native to peninsular India, Nepal, and Pakistan, this species has been introduced into northern Sumatra.1
  • Fawn-coloured mouse (Mus cervicolor): Naturally distributed throughout mainland Southeast Asia and southern China, it was likely introduced to rice fields on Sumatra and Java.1
  • Ryukyu mouse (Mus caroli): Native to Southeast Asia, including Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands, this species was apparently introduced by humans to the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Java, and Flores Island.1