Rodentia
Christopher Palau
Definition/Facts• Have a single pair of continuously growing incisors in both the
upper and lower jaws.
• Have a diastema, or a gap between the incisors and the cheek teeth.
• 43% of all mammals are rodents
• There are 30 families, and 1,620 species known worldwide.
• They are found nearly everywhere becausethey are extremely adaptable
6 Families in PASciuridae, Castoridae, Muridae, Dipodidae, Erethizontidae, Cricetidae
History• First rodents were around 66 million years ago.
• First direct relatives of modern rodents were 20 million years ago. (beaver)
• Horned Gopheronly horned rodent
• 2.5 mya
CastoridaeBeaver
Castor canadensis
Largest rodent in
North America
ErethizontidaeNorth American Porcupine
Erethizon dorsatum
• Quills are modified hairs• Only predator is the fisher
DipodidaeMeadow Jumping MiceZapus hudsonius
Woodland Jumping MiceNapaeozapus insignis
CricetidaeSubfamily Arvicolinae (lemmings, voles, and muskrat)
• Rock Vole• Meadow Vole• Woodland Vole• Southern bog lemming• Southern red-backed vole• Muskrat
SubfamilyNeotominae (North American rats/mice)
• Woodrat• Deer mouse• White-footed mouse
Old world rats and mice
Muridae
1) House mouse (Mus musculus)2) Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)3) Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
1
2 3
SubfamilySciurinae(tree squirrels and flying squirrels)• Gray Squirrel• Fox squirrel• Red squirrel• Northern flying squirrel• Southern flying squirrel
SciuridaeSquirrels, chipmunks, marmots
SubfamilyXerinae(chipmunks and ground squirrels)• Woodchuck• Eastern Chipmunk• Thirteen-lined ground squirrel
Found only in Mercer and Venango counties