Biology:List of rodents

Short description: Animals in mammal order Rodentia

Clockwise from top-left: capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), South African springhare (Pedetes capensis), golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis), house mouse (Mus musculus), North American beaver (Castor canadensis)

Worldwide distribution of rodent species

Rodentia is an order of placental mammals. Members of this order are called rodents. The order comprises 2,360 extant species, which are grouped into 511 genera. The largest order of mammals, rodents comprise about 40% of all mammal species worldwide. They are native to all major land masses except for Antarctica, and can be found worldwide. They live in a variety of habitats, particularly forests, grasslands, and shrublands, but also savannas, wetlands, deserts, and rocky areas. Most rodents are small animals with robust bodies, short limbs, and long tails. They range in length from the African pygmy mouse, at 4 cm (2 in) plus a 2 cm (1 in) tail, to the capybara, at 134 cm (53 in) plus a 2 cm (1 in) tail.

Rodentia is divided into five suborders: Anomaluromorpha, Castorimorpha, Hystricomorpha, Myomorpha, and Sciuromorpha. The suborders are further subdivided into clades and families. Anomaluromorpha contains two families, the scaly-tailed squirrels and the springhares. Castorimorpha contains three families and includes beavers, gophers, kangaroo rats, and pocket mice. Hystricomorpha contains 18 families and includes mole-rats, porcupines, cavies, hutias, tuco-tucos, and Neotropical spiny rats. Myomorpha contains nine families and includes jerboas, hamsters, voles, and a wide variety of rats and mice. Sciuromorpha contains three families and includes squirrels, chipmunks, and dormice. The exact organization of the species is not fixed, with many recent proposals made based on molecular phylogenetic analysis. In addition to the extant rodents, 38 species have been driven extinct since 1500 CE.

Conventions

The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the collective range of species in that genera is provided. Ranges are based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species unless otherwise noted. All extinct genera or species listed alongside extant species went extinct after 1500 CE, and are indicated by a dagger symbol "†".

Classification

The order Rodentia consists of 2,360 extant species belonging to 511 genera. This does not include hybrid species or extinct prehistoric species. Modern molecular studies indicate that the 511 genera can be grouped into 35 families; these families are divided between 5 named suborders and are grouped in those suborders into named clades, and some of these families are subdivided into named subfamilies. An additional 38 species have been driven extinct since 1500 CE: 8 in the family Capromyidae, 6 in Echimyidae, 11 in Cricetidae, and 13 in Muridae.

Suborder Anomaluromorpha

• Family Anomaluridae (scaly-tailed squirrels): 3 genera, 7 species
• Family Pedetidae (springhares): 1 genus, 2 species

Suborder Castorimorpha

• Superfamily Castoroidea
  • Family Castoridae (beavers): 1 genus, 2 species
• Superfamily Geomyoidea
  • Family Geomyidae (gophers): 7 genera, 36 species
  • Family Heteromyidae (kangaroo rats and picket mice)
    • Subfamily Dipodomyinae (kangaroo rats, and kangaroo mice): 2 genera, 22 species
    • Subfamily Heteromyinae (spiny pocket mice): 1 genus, 14 species
    • Subfamily Perognathinae (pocket mice): 2 genera, 27 species

Suborder Hystricomorpha

• Parvorder Caviomorpha
  • Superfamily Cavioidea
    • Family Caviidae (cavies)
      • Subfamily Caviinae (guinea pigs and cavies): 3 genera, 15 species
      • Subfamily Dolichotinae (maras): 1 genus, 2 species
      • Subfamily Hydrochoerinae (capybaras and rock cavies): 2 genera, 4 species
    • Family Cuniculidae (pacas): 1 genus, 2 species
    • Family Dasyproctidae (agoutis and achouchis): 2 genera, 15 species
    • Family Erethizontidae (New World porcupines)
      • Subfamily Chaetomyinae (bristle-spined rat): 1 genus, 1 species
      • Subfamily Erethizontinae (prehensile-tailed porcupines): 2 genera, 17 species
  • Superfamily Chinchilloidea
    • Family Dinomyidae (pacarana): 1 genus, 1 species
    • Family Chinchillidae (chinchillas and viscachas): 2 genera, 7 species (1 extinct)
  • Superfamily Octodontoidea
    • Family Abrocomidae (chinchilla rats): 2 genera, 10 species
    • Family Capromyidae (hutias)
      • Subfamily Capromyinae (hutias): 4 genera, 11 species (2 extinct)
      • Subfamily HexolobodontinaeTemplate:Narrow no-break space† (imposter hutia): 1 genus, 1 species (1 extinct)
      • Subfamily IsolobodontinaeTemplate:Narrow no-break space† (laminar-toothed hutias): 1 genus, 2 species (2 extinct)
      • Subfamily Plagiodontinae (Hispaniolan hutias): 3 genera, 4 species (3 extinct)
    • Family Ctenomyidae (tuco-tucos): 1 genus, 59 species
    • Family Echimyidae (Neotropical spiny rats)
      • Subfamily Carterodontinae (Owl's spiny rat): 1 genus, 1 species
      • Subfamily Echimyinae (tree-rats, bamboo rats, and brush-tailed rats): 18 genera, 75 species
      • Subfamily Euryzygomatomyinae (Atlantic spiny rats): 3 genera, 12 species
      • Subfamily HeteropsomyinaeTemplate:Narrow no-break space† (cave rats): 3 genera, 6 species (6 extinct)
    • Family Octodontidae (degus, rock rats, and viscacha rats): 7 genera, 14 species
• Superfamily Ctenodactyloidea
  • Family Ctenodactylidae (gundis): 4 genera, 5 species
  • Family Diatomyidae (Laotian rock rat): 1 genus, 1 species
• Family Hystricidae (Old World porcupines): 3 genera, 11 species
• Parvorder Phiomorpha
  • Family Bathyergidae (mole-rats): 5 genera, 21 species
  • Family Heterocephalidae (naked mole-rat): 1 genus, 1 species
  • Family Petromuridae (dassie rat): 1 genus, 1 species
  • Family Thryonomyidae (cane rats): 1 genus, 2 species

Suborder Myomorpha

• Superfamily Dipodoidea
  • Family Dipodidae (jerboas)
    • Subfamily Allactaginae (jerboas): 4 genera, 16 species
    • Subfamily Cardiocraniinae (pygmy jerboas): 3 genera, 7 species
    • Subfamily Dipodinae (three-toed jerboas): 5 genera, 9 species
    • Subfamily Euchoreutinae (long-eared jerboa): 1 genus, 1 species
  • Family Sminthidae (birch mice): 1 genus, 16 species
  • Family Zapodidae (jumping mice): 3 genera, 5 species
• Superfamily Muroidea
  • Family Calomyscidae (brush-tailed mice): 1 genus, 8 species
  • Family Cricetidae (New World rats and mice)
    • Subfamily Arvicolinae (voles, lemmings, and muskrats): 30 genera, 158 species
    • Subfamily Cricetinae (hamsters): 7 genera, 18 species
    • Subfamily Neotominae (deer mice, packrats, and grasshopper mice): 16 genera, 124 species (1 extinct)
    • Subfamily Sigmodontinae (New World rats and mice): 87 genera, 395 species (10 extinct)
    • Subfamily Tylomyinae (vesper rats and climbing rats): 4 genera, 10 species
  • Family Muridae (Old World rats and mice)
    • Subfamily Deomyinae (spiny mice and brush-furred rats): 4 genera, 55 species
    • Subfamily Gerbillinae (gerbils, jirds, and sand rats): 14 genera, 102 species
    • Subfamily Leimacomyinae (Togo mouse): 1 genus, 1 species
    • Subfamily Lophiomyinae (maned rat): 1 genus, 1 species
    • Subfamily Murinae (Old World mice and rats): 136 genera, 655 species (13 extinct)
  • Family Nesomyidae (African and Malagasy rats and mice)
    • Subfamily Cricetomyinae (hamster-rats and pouched rats): 3 genera, 8 species
    • Subfamily Delanymyinae (Delany's mouse): 1 genus, 1 species
    • Subfamily Dendromurinae (climbing mice and fat mice): 6 genera, 26 species
    • Subfamily Mystromyinae (white-tailed rat): 1 genus, 1 species
    • Subfamily Nesomyinae (Malagasy rodents): 9 genera, 27 species
    • Subfamily Petromyscinae (rock mice): 1 genus, 4 species
  • Family Platacanthomyidae (Oriental dormice): 2 genera, 2 species
  • Family Spalacidae (mole-rats)
    • Subfamily Myospalacinae (zokors): 2 genera, 6 species
    • Subfamily Rhizomyinae (bamboo rats and mole-rats): 3 genera, 6 species
    • Subfamily Spalacinae (blind mole-rats): 2 genera, 11 species

Suborder Sciuromorpha

• Family Aplodontiidae (mountain beaver): 1 genus, 1 species
• Family Gliridae (dormice)
  • Subfamily Glirinae (Japanese dormice and edible dormice): 2 genera, 2 species
  • Subfamily Graphiurinae (African dormice): 1 genus, 15 species
  • Subfamily Leithiinae (dormice): 6 genera, 12 species
• Family Sciuridae (squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots)
  • Subfamily Callosciurinae (Asian squirrels): 14 genera, 67 species
  • Subfamily Ratufinae (giant squirrels): 1 genus, 4 species
  • Subfamily Sciurillinae (Neotropical pygmy squirrel): 1 genus, 1 species
  • Subfamily Sciurinae (tree squirrels and flying squirrels): 20 genera, 2 species
  • Subfamily Xerinae (ground squirrels, chipmunks, and prairie dogs): 24 genera, 2 species

Rodentia   Sciuromorpha     Gliridae       Aplodontiidae     Sciuridae             Hystricomorpha     Ctenodactyloidea     Ctenodactylidae     Diatomyidae           Hystricidae     Phiomorpha       Bathyergidae     Heterocephalidae         Petromuridae     Thryonomyidae       Caviomorpha     Cavioidea     Erethizontidae       Cuniculidae       Caviidae     Dasyproctidae             Chinchilloidea     Dinomyidae     Chinchillidae     Octodontoidea     Abrocomidae         Capromyidae     Echimyidae         Ctenomyidae     Octodontidae                         Castorimorpha   Castoroidea   Castoridae   Geomyoidea     Heteromyidae     Geomyidae           Anomaluromorpha     Anomaluridae     Pedetidae     Myomorpha Dipodoidea     Sminthidae       Dipodidae     Zapodidae       Muroidea     Platacanthomyidae         Spalacidae       Calomyscidae       Nesomyidae       Cricetidae     Muridae

Rodents

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.

Suborder Anomaluromorpha

Family Anomaluridae

Members of the Anomaluridae family are called anomalurids or scaly-tailed squirrels. They eat a variety of vegetation, and some also eat insects. Anomaluridae comprises seven extant species, divided into three genera.

Family Pedetidae

Members of the Pedetidae family are called pedetids or springhares. They eat bulbs and roots, as well as stems and grain. Pedetidae comprises two extant species in a single genus.

Suborder Castorimorpha

Superfamily Castoroidea

Family Castoridae

Members of the Castoridae family are called castorids or beavers. They eat woody and aquatic plants. Castoridae comprises two extant species in a single genus.

Superfamily Geomyoidea

Family Geomyidae

Members of the Geomyidae family are called geomyids, pocket gophers, or gophers. They primarily eat roots, bulbs, and rhizomes, as well as other vegetation. Geomyidae comprises 36 extant species in 7 genera.

Family Heteromyidae

Members of the Heteromyidae family are called heteromyids and include kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, pocket mice, and spiny pocket mice. They primarily eat seeds, leaves, and other vegetation, as well as grain and insects. Heteromyidae comprises 63 extant species in 5 genera. These genera are divided between three subfamilies: Dipodomyinae, containing the kangaroo rats and kangaroo mice; Heteromyinae, or the spiny pocket mice; and Perognathinae, or the pocket mice.

Suborder Hystricomorpha

Parvorder Caviomorpha

Superfamily Cavioidea

Family Caviidae

Members of the Caviidae family are called caviids and include guinea pigs, cavies, maras, and capybaras. They are herbivores and eat a wide variety of vegetation, primarily grass and leaves. Caviidae comprises 21 extant species which are divided into 6 genera in 3 subfamilies: Caviinae, containing the guinea pigs and cavies; Dolichotinae, containing the maras; and Hydrochoerinae, containing rock cavies and capybaras.

Family Cuniculidae

Members of the Cuniculidae family are called cuniculids or pacas. It contains two species, which eat leaves, stems, roots, seeds, and fruit.

Family Dasyproctidae

Members of the Dasyproctidae family are called dasyproctids and include agoutis and acouchis. They are herbivores and primarily eat fruit, vegetables, and succulent plants. Caviidae comprises fifteen extant species which are divided into two genera.

Family Erethizontidae

Members of the Erethizontidae family are called erethizontids or New World porcupines. They are herbivores and primarily eat leaves, stems, fruit, flowers, and roots. Erethizontidae comprises eighteen extant species in three genera, grouped into two subfamilies: Chaetomyinae, containing a single species, and Erethizontinae, containing the other seventeen.

Superfamily Chinchilloidea

Family Chinchillidae

Members of the Chinchillidae family are called chinchillids and contain chinchillas and viscachas. They are herbivores and eat grass and seeds, as well as other vegetation. Chinchillidae comprises six extant species which are divided into three genera, as well as a single extinct species.

Family Dinomyidae

Members of the Dinomyidae family are called dinomyids. It contains a single species, which eats fruit, leaves, and stems.

Superfamily Octodontoidea

Family Abrocomidae

Members of the Abrocomidae family are called abrocomids or chinchilla rats. They are herbivores and eat a variety of vegetation. Abrocomidae comprises ten extant species which are divided into two genera.

Family Capromyidae

Members of the Capromyidae family are called capromyids or hutias. They are omnivores and eat leaves, fruit, bark, and small animals. Capromyidae comprises ten extant species in five genera, grouped into two subfamilies: Capromyinae, containing nine species, and Plagiodontinae, containing a single species. Additionally, two species in Capromyinae, three species in Plagiodontinae, the sole species in the subfamily Hexolobodontinae, and the two species in the subfamily Isolobodontinae were driven extinct after 1500 due to the European colonization of the Americas and introduction of non-native rats, with some species surviving until the 1900s.

Family Ctenomyidae

Members of the Ctenomyidae family are called ctenomyids or tuco-tucos. They are herbivores and eat a wide variety of vegetation. Ctenomyidae comprises 59 extant species in a single genus.

Family Echimyidae

Members of the Echimyidae family are called echimyids or Neotropical spiny rats, and include spiny rats, tree-rats, and cave rats. They primarily eat a wide variety of vegetation, though some species also eat insects. Echimyidae comprises 88 extant species in 23 genera, split into three subfamilies: Caterodontinae, containing a single species; Echimyinae, containing 75 species, and Euryzygomatomyinae, containing 12 species. Additionally, six species of Caribbean cave rat, comprising the three genera of the subfamily Heteropsomyinae, were driven to extinction since 1500 due to the European colonization of the Americas and introduction of non-native rats, with some species surviving until the 1900s.

Family Octodontidae

Members of the Octodontidae family are called octodontids and include degus, rock rats, and viscacha rats. They are herbivores, and eat a variety of plant matter and fruit, with some species also eating dung. Octodontidae comprises fourteen extant species in seven genera.

Superfamily Ctenodactyloidea

Family Ctenodactylidae

Members of the Ctenodactylidae family are called ctenodactylids or gundis. They eat a variety of vegetation. Ctenodactylidae comprises five extant species in four genera.

Family Diatomyidae

Members of the Diatomyidae family are called diatomyids. The family contains a single herbivorous species.

Family Hystricidae

Members of the Hystricidae family are called hystricids or Old World porcupines. They are primarily herbivores and eat grasses, bulbs, tubers, fruit, bark, and roots, though insects and carrion are occasionally eaten. Hystricidae comprises eleven extant species in three genera.

Parvorder Phiomorpha

Family Bathyergidae

Members of the Bathyergidae family are called bathyergids, blesmols, or mole-rats. They are omnivores, and primarily eat roots, bulbs, and tubers, as well as earthworms and insects. Bathyergidae comprises twenty-one extant species in five genera.

Family Heterocephalidae

Members of the Heterocephalidae family are called heterocephalids. It includes a single species, which eats tubers, roots, and corms.

Family Petromuridae

Members of the Petromuridae family are called petromurids. It contains a single species, which eats vegetation, seeds, and berries.

Family Thryonomyidae

Members of the Thryonomyidae family are called thryonomyids or cane rats. It contains two species, which eats grass and cane, as well as bark, nuts, and fruit.

Suborder Myomorpha

Superfamily Dipodoidea

Family Dipodidae

Members of the Dipodidae family are called dipodids or jerboas. They are omnivores, and eat a variety of vegetation as well as insects, arachnids, and lizards. Dipodidae comprises 33 extant species in 13 genera, which are divided into 4 subfamilies: Allactaginae contains 16 species, Cardiocraniinae contains 7 species, Dipodinae contains 9, and Euchoreutinae contains a single species.

Family Sminthidae

Members of the Sminthidae family are called sminthids or birch mice. They are omnivores and primarily eat seeds, berries, and insects. Sminthidae comprises sixteen extant species in a single genus.

Family Zapodidae

Members of the Zapodidae family are called zapodids or jumping mice. They are omnivores and eat a variety of vegetation and insects. Zapodidae comprises five extant species in three genera.

Superfamily Muroidea

Family Calomyscidae

Members of the Calomyscidae family are called calomyscids or brush-tailed mice. They are omnivores and primarily eat seeds, as well as flowers, leaves, and animal matter. Calomyscidae comprises eight extant species in a single genus.

Family Cricetidae

Members of the Cricetidae family are called cricetids and include hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice. They eat vegetation, seeds, and insects, and some also eat fungi, fish, and small animals. Cricetidae comprises 694 extant species, the second-most of any mammal family, divided into 141 genera. These genera are divided into five subfamilies: Arvicolinae, containing 158 species of voles, lemmings, and muskrats; Cricetinae, containing 18 species of hamsters; Neotominae, containing 123 species of deer mice, packrats, and grasshopper mice; Sigmodontinae, containing 385 species of New World rats and mice; and Tylomyinae, containing 10 species of vesper and climbing rats. Additionally, one species in Neotominae and ten species Sigmodontinae in were driven extinct after 1500 due to the European colonization of the Americas and introduction of non-native rats, with some species surviving until the 1900s.

Family Muridae

Members of the Muridae family are called murids and include gerbils and many types of mice and rats. They eat a variety of vegetation and invertebrates, though some also eat small vertebrates. Muridae comprises 801 extant species, the most of any mammal family, divided into 156 genera. These genera are divided into five subfamilies: Deomyinae, containing 55 species of spiny mice and brush-furred rats; Gerbillinae, containing 102 species of gerbils, jirds, and sand rats; Leimacomyinae, containing a single rat species; Lophiomyinae, containing a single mouse species; and Murinae, containing 642 species of Old World mice and rats. Additionally, thirteen species in Murinae have been driven extinct since 1500.

Family Nesomyidae

Members of the Nesomyidae family are called nesomyids and include Malagasy rodents, climbing mice, African rock mice, pouched rats, and tufted-tailed rats. They are generally omnivores, and eat seeds, fruit, nuts, roots, stems, and insects. Nesomyidae comprises 67 extant species divided into 21 genera, grouped into six subfamilies: Cricetomyinae, containing 8 species of hamster-rats and pouched rats; Delanymyinae, containing a single species; Dendromurinae, containing 26 species of climbing mice and fat mice; Mystromyinae, containing a single species; Nesomyinae, containing 27 species of short-tailed rats, tufted-tailed rats, and big-footed mice; and Petromyscinae, containing 4 species of rock mice.

Family Platacanthomyidae

Members of the Platacanthomyidae family are called platacanthomyids or Oriental dormice. They generally eat fruit, seeds, grain, and roots. Platacanthomyidae comprises two extant species in two genera.

Family Spalacidae

Members of the Spalacidae family are called spalacids and include blind mole-rats, bamboo rats, mole-rats, and zokors. They are primarily herbivores, and eat roots, bulbs, tubers, grass, and seeds, with some species also eating insects. Spalacidae comprises 23 extant species in 7 genera, divided into 3 subfamilies: Myospalacinae contains 6 species of zokors, Rhizomyinae contains 6 species of bamboo rats and mole-rats, Spalacinae contains 11 species of blind mole-rats.

Suborder Sciuromorpha

Family Aplodontiidae

Members of the Aplodontiidae family are called aplodontiids. It includes a single herbivorous species.

Family Gliridae

Members of the Gliridae family are called glirids or dormice. They are omnivores and feed on fruit and nuts, as well as invertebrates, birds and their eggs, and small rodents. Gliridae comprises 29 extant species in 9 genera, divided into 3 subfamilies: Glirinae, containing two species; Graphiurinae, containing fifteen species; and Leithiinae, containing twelve species.

Family Sciuridae

Members of the Sciuridae family are called sciurids and include squirrels, chipmunks, and marmots. They primarily feed on fruit, seeds, and nuts, though many species also eat insects, fungi, bark, eggs, and small vertebrates. Sciuridae comprises 284 extant species in 60 genera, divided into 5 subfamilies: Callosciurinae, containing 67 species of Asian squirrels; Ratufinae, containing 4 species of giant squirrels; Sciurillinae, containing a single species of pygmy squirrel; Sciurinae, containing 84 species of flying squirrel and tree squirrels; and Xerinae, containing 128 species of marmots, chipmunks, prairie dogs, and ground squirrels.

Sources

• Barthelmess, Erika L. (2016). Handbook of the Mammals of the World. 6. Lagomorphs and Rodents I. Lynx Nature Books. ISBN 978-84-941892-3-4. 
• All the Mammals of the World. Lynx Nature Books. 2023. ISBN 978-84-16728-66-4. 
• Nowak, Ronald M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World. 2 (6th ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-5789-8. 
• Mammal Species of the World. 2 (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. 2005. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.