Mus spretus (Rodentia: Muridae)

Mus spretus Lataste, 1883, is a small, wild (noncommensal) murine with a rounded muzzle and small eyes and ears. This species, commonly called the western Mediterranean mouse, is distributed throughout Portugal across all but the northern fringe of Spain into the southern region of France. In Africa it occupies the Maghreb area from Morocco up to Algeria and Tunsia. It prefers open habitats but is found in a variety of agroecosystems such as crops, orchards, grasslands, scrubland, or forests. Its diet reflects the availability of resources more than its preferences for certain food items. M. spretus constitutes an important component of the diet of more than a dozen predators, including carnivores, owls, and snakes. It is classified as a species of Least Concern.