鼠科 (Muridae),源自拉丁文 mus (「老鼠」),意指這些動物是老鼠,因為所有真鼠都屬於鼠科.

Muridae, from Latin mus (“mouse”), in reference to the fact that these animals are mice, as all true mice belong to the family.

種的俗名 Common names of members

真鼠

True mice.

分佈 Distribution  

遍佈歐亞、非洲和澳洲.

Throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia.

體型 Size

這些小動物通常約 10 公分長（不包括尾巴）,某些品種可長達 50 公分.

These are little animals that are usually about 10 cm long (not including the tail), while certain species can reach lengths of up to 50 cm. 

形態描述 Morphology

儘管這些動物有很多不同的一般特徵,但牠們通常都有細長的身體,長於身體的有鱗片的尾巴,以及有著明顯鬍鬚的尖嘴.為了增強攀爬能力,有些囓齒目動物發展出了預手尾巴和寬大的腳掌,而另一些則沒有這些特殊適應.甚至有些囓齒目動物還延長了腿部和腳掌.牠們通常是棕色系,但很多個體都有黑色、灰色或白色的斑紋

Although there is much variety in their general characteristics, they usually have thin bodies with scaled tails that are longer than the body and pointed snouts with noticeable whiskers. To enhance their capacity to climb, some murids have developed prehensile tails and wide feet, whereas others have neither adaptation. Some murids have even gone so far as to extend their legs and feet. They are often some shade of brown, though many of them have markings that are black, grey, or white.

生態與棲息地 Habitat & Ecology

他們生活在許多不同類型的環境中,包括苔原和熱帶雨林.有些品種是半水棲性、化石棲性和樹棲性的,但大多數都是陸棲性的.

They live in many different types of environments, including tundras and tropical rainforest. There are species that are semiaquatic, fossorial, and arboreal, but the majority are terrestrial.

食性 Diet

這些物種的食性有多種,從草食性與雜食性物種到只吃特定種類真菌、水生昆蟲或蚯蚓的專門物種.大多數的品種都吃小型無脊椎動物和植物性物質；牠們經常儲存種子和其他植物性物質,以供冬天食用.

These species have a wide variety of eating patterns, from herbivorous and omnivorous species to specialists who only eat specific types of fungi, aquatic insects, or earthworms. The majority of species eat small invertebrates and plant matter; they frequently store seeds and other plant materials for eating in the winter. 

繁殖 Reproduction

有些品種是隱居的,有些則相當好動.雌性通常每年產下多胎.在溫暖的氣候下,繁殖可能會全年進行.儘管大部分屬的壽命不到兩年,但繁殖能力很強.當食物耗盡時,牠們的族群會迅速增長,然後再急劇減少.這種情況經常以三至四年為一個週期.

While some species are reclusive, others are quite gregarious. Females typically give birth to multiple litters each year. In warm climates, breeding may take place all year round. Despite the fact that most genera have lifespans of less than two years, they have a high capacity for reproduction. When food supplies run out, their populations tend to grow quickly before experiencing a sharp decrease. This frequently occurs in cycles of three to four years.

已知的物種

Total species known

834

博物館收藏的物種

Species in the collection

6

在香港已知的物種

Species in Hong Kong

9

Reference

Macdonald, D. W. (2006). The Encyclopedia of mammals. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acref/9780199206087.001.0001.

Savage, R. J. G., Long, M. R. (1986). Mammal Evolution: an illustrated guide. Facts on File.

Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (2005). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press.