The pet mouse should be called just that, or fancy mouse. It originates from the house mouse and is called Mus musculus domesticus in Latin. Other names are incorrect. Some of the other names the pet mouse is sometimes called are dancing mouse, popcorn mouse, corn mouse and micro mouse.
The relationship between mice and mankind began 8000 years ago, when we became farmers.
For about 4000 years ago, the first attempts to keep tame mice began, in countries like Japan, China and Egypt, where they kept mice in specific buildings and tempels, just for the mice. The mice were worshiped and most often considered holy. It's been said that mice with white markings existed already at that time.
Mice have at several occasions in history been considered holy and has represented fertility, but also unfortune - most of all in Europe.
