Head to head
Natal Multimammate Mouse vs House Mouse
Natal Multimammate Mouse
VS House Mouse
The Natal multimammate mouse and house mouse are both prolific small rodents that live close to people, but one is an African species tied to Lassa virus and the other a mouse found almost worldwide.
| Natal Multimammate Mouse | House Mouse | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Mastomys natalensis | Mus musculus |
| Range | Savanna, grassland, farmland, and villages across much of sub-Saharan Africa | Almost worldwide alongside people, and also in fields, hedgerows, and grassland |
| Origin | Native to sub-Saharan Africa | Spread out of the region around the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East with the first grain stores |
| Breeding | Produces large litters and breeds frequently when food is plentiful, and females have many pairs of nipples | A litter of about 5 to 8 young roughly every three weeks, with young breeding at around six weeks |
| Population surges | Numbers can surge after good rains, sometimes producing crop-damaging outbreaks | In good conditions a single pair and their descendants can number in the hundreds within a year |
| Diet | Seeds, grains, and plants, along with insects | Chiefly seeds and grain, but in practice almost any food it can reach |
| Disease link | The main natural host of Lassa virus in West Africa, which can spread to people through its urine or droppings or contaminated food | Not specifically documented |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, widespread and often abundant | Least Concern, one of the most numerous mammals on Earth |
Natal Multimammate Mouse vs House Mouse: common questions
Why is it called multimammate?
Females have many more pairs of nipples than most mice, and multimammate means having many mammary glands.
Which mouse is linked to Lassa virus?
The Natal multimammate mouse, the main natural host of Lassa virus in West Africa, which can spread to people through contact with its urine or droppings or contaminated food.
Where do the Natal multimammate mouse and house mouse live?
The Natal multimammate mouse lives in savanna, grassland, farmland, and villages across much of sub-Saharan Africa, while the house mouse lives almost worldwide alongside people.