Nezumi (mouse) - Mouse

Japanese: ネズミ(鼠) - ネズミ

A general term for the rodent family, muridae, and related mammals. They are small, evolved rodents with many species and populations, accounting for about one-third of all living mammals, or 1,300 species, and are found almost all over the world. Their body length varies from 3.5 to 48.5 cm. They have a pair of strong incisors on each of the upper and lower jaws, which continue to grow throughout their lives. The front is made of enamel, and the back is made of soft ivory, so the back wears down quickly and becomes sharp like a chisel. They have a gestation period of 14 to 21 days, and can conceive on the day of birth. Under good conditions, they give birth to 5 to 10 pups per litter almost year-round, multiplying in a so-called rat-like pattern. They are mainly nocturnal. They are usually divided into field mice and house mice. There are about 20 species of field mice in Japan, and they live in forests, fields, and farmlands. There are two subfamilies: Murinae and Microtinae. The former includes Apodemus speciosus, Apodemus argenteus, and Microtinae, which prefer seeds and nuts. The latter includes Microtus montebelli, Aedes argenteus, Aedes smithii, and Microtinae, which prefer grass and roots and can cause great damage to crops and forests. House mice live in human dwellings and nearby fields and include three species: Mus musculus, Rattus norvegicus, and Rattus smithii. None of these species are native to Japan, but they are the most common and cause great harm by eating furniture and food and transmitting infectious diseases. In addition, Japanese rats, Chinese cadmium, hamsters, and cotton rats are kept as pets and for experimental purposes. Many insectivorous species, such as the Japanese bush mouse, shrew, and musk mouse, are also called mice.

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

齧歯(げっし)目ネズミ科および近縁の科の哺乳(ほにゅう)類の総称。進化した小型の齧歯類で，種類も個体数も多く，現生哺乳類の約３分の１，1300種を占めるといわれ，ほとんど全世界に分布する。体長は3.5〜48.5cmまでさまざま。上下顎１対ずつの門歯は丈夫で，一生のびつづける。前面がエナメル質，後側が柔らかい象牙(ぞうげ)質のため，後側が早くすりへって先はのみ状に鋭くとがる。妊娠期間14〜21日，出産当日にも受胎可能で，条件がよければほとんど周年にわたって１腹５〜10子を生み，いわゆるねずみ算式にふえる。主として夜行性。ふつうノネズミとイエネズミに分けられる。　日本産のノネズミ類は約20種，山林，原野，農耕地などにすむ。ネズミ亜科とハタネズミ亜科とがあり，前者にはアカネズミ，ヒメネズミ，カヤネズミなどが含まれ，種子，種実を好む。後者にはハタネズミ，エゾヤチネズミ，カゲネズミ，スミスネズミなどがあり，草や根を好み，農作物や森林に大害を及ぼすことがある。イエネズミ類は人家およびその付近の畑などにすみ，ハツカネズミ，ドブネズミ，クマネズミの３種がある。いずれも日本在来の種ではないが，現在最も繁殖し，家具や食物を食い荒らし，伝染病を媒介するなど害が著しい。またダイコクネズミ，ナンキンネズミ，ハムスター，コトンラットなどは実験用，愛がん用に飼育される。　なおジネズミ，トガリネズミ，ジャコウネズミなど食虫目にもネズミの名で呼ばれるものが多い。

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