Mouse

Mice are small rodents. Like all rodent they have gnawing teeth. The world mouse, however, has been applied loosely to many rodents simply because of their size and superficial similarities, such as somewhat pointed snout, a slender and sparsely haired tail, relatively conspicuous ears, and an elongate body. In term of these caharacteristics, mice are grouped below into new world and old families, although both contain many species other than those called mice. In addition, many small rodents with distinctly different characteristics are known as mice, including the short tailed field mice, or field voles. Microtus, the pocket mice, family heteromyidae, the jumping mice, family Zapodidae, and the squirrelike dormice and related forms, families Glirdae, Platacanthomyidae, and Seleviniidae.

Many mice carry viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases. Mice also have considerable economic impact through crop damage, destruction of trees, and food contamination.