Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What is the scientific name of the common house mouse?

1. Mus musculus

2. Rattus norvegicus

3. Mus spretus

4. Rattus rattus

The correct answer is: Mus musculus

The scientific name of the common house mouse is indeed Mus musculus. This name follows the binomial nomenclature system, which is used to uniquely identify species based on their genus and species. In this case, "Mus" represents the genus, which encompasses various types of mice, while "musculus" indicates the specific species of the common house mouse. Understanding scientific names is crucial because it allows precise communication about specific organisms across different languages and regions. The use of italicization and capitalization in this naming convention highlights the standard method by which scientists classify and categorize living organisms. The other names listed refer to different species. For instance, Rattus norvegicus is the scientific name for the brown rat, while Mus spretus refers to the Algerian mouse, and Rattus rattus is known as the black rat. Each of these species has distinct characteristics and habitats, differentiating them from Mus musculus, which is specifically associated with human dwellings and urban environments.