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Rodents

Rodents are an order of mammals. They have only one pair of incisors in the upper and lower jaws and like to gnaw on hard objects. Rodents are generally small, most of them are active at night or at dawn and dusk, and many species have strong reproductive capacity. Rodents account for about 40% to 50% of mammals. They can be said to be the most successful branch in the evolution of vertebrates. The number of individuals far exceeds the total number of all other groups. They are almost everywhere in the world except Antarctica and a few islands.


I. Introduction to Rodentia

1. General Characteristics:

  • Specialized Incisors: Rodents are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing, chisel-shaped incisors in both the upper and lower jaws. The enamel is typically only present on the front surface, keeping the edge sharp through the animal’s gnawing activities.

  • Reduced Dentition: Between the incisors and cheek teeth (premolars and molars), there is a conspicuous toothless gap (diastema). No canine teeth are present.

  • Dietary Diversity: Most rodents are herbivorous or omnivorous, feeding on seeds, nuts, fruits, leaves, and sometimes insects.

  • Global Distribution: Rodents are found almost everywhere on Earth except Antarctica, inhabiting a broad range of environments—from cold tundra to tropical rainforests, deserts, and grasslands.

2. Diversity and Abundance:

  • Rodentia is the largest order of mammals, comprising about 40% of all mammalian species. Over 2,500 rodent species have been described, illustrating their remarkable evolutionary success and adaptive radiation.


II. Evolutionary History

1. Origins and Fossil Record:

  • Rodents likely originated in the late Paleocene to early Eocene (approximately 56 million years ago). Early fossil rodents appear around the same time as early primates.

  • The Eocene saw the initial diversification and geographic spread of rodents.

2. Geographic Radiation:

  • Rodents dispersed across continents via land bridges and continental drift. Over millions of years, they adapted to diverse habitats, leading to remarkable variety: from burrowing naked mole-rats in Africa to tree-dwelling squirrels, semi-aquatic beavers, and jumping jerboas in arid regions.

3. Paleogene and Neogene Proliferation:

  • By the Oligocene and Miocene, many modern rodent families had emerged, setting the stage for today’s global distribution and immense diversity.


III. Classification Overview

The taxonomy of Rodentia is complex and continually refined. The traditional classification relies heavily on jaw and skull morphology and muscular arrangements. Below is a commonly referenced framework, which may differ slightly from more recent molecular-based classifications. It includes major suborders and families, with some representative genera or species.

Order Rodentia

SuborderSuperfamilyFamilyRepresentative Genera/Species
Sciuromorpha-Aplodontiidae (Sewellel)Mountain beaver (Aplodontia rufa)

-Sciuridae (Squirrels)Squirrels (Sciurus), Chipmunks (Tamias), Marmots (Marmota)

-Gliridae/Myoxidae (Dormice)Garden dormouse (Eliomys), Forest dormouse (Dryomys)
Castorimorpha-Castoridae (Beavers)North American beaver (Castor canadensis), Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber)

-Geomyidae (Pocket gophers)Geomys, Thomomys

-Heteromyidae (Kangaroo rats & relatives)Kangaroo rats (Dipodomys), Pocket mice (Perognathus)
Anomaluromorpha-Anomaluridae (Scaly-tailed squirrels)Scaly-tailed flying squirrels (Anomalurus)

-Pedetidae (Springhares)Springhare (Pedetes capensis)
MyomorphaDipodoidea (Jerboas & allies)Dipodidae (Jerboas)Jerboas (Jaculus), Birch mice (Sicista)

Muroidea (Mice, Rats, Hamsters, Voles)Platacanthomyidae (Spiny dormice)Spiny dormice (Platacanthomys)


Spalacidae (Mole-rats, Bamboo rats)Blind mole-rats (Spalax), Bamboo rats (Rhizomys)


Calomyscidae (Mouse-like hamsters)Mouse-like hamsters (Calomyscus)


Nesomyidae (African rodents)African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys), Rock mice (Petromyscus)


Cricetidae (Hamsters, New World voles & mice)Golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), Deer mouse (Peromyscus), Vole (Microtus)


Muridae (True mice, rats, gerbils)House mouse (Mus musculus), Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus)
Hystricomorpha-Ctenodactylidae (Gundis)Gundi (Ctenodactylus)

-Diatomyidae (Laotian rock rat)Laotian rock rat (Laonastes aenigmamus)

-Bathyergidae (African mole-rats)Naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber)

-Hystricidae (Old World porcupines)African porcupine (Hystrix), Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica)

-Petromuridae (Dassie rat)Dassie rat (Petromus)

-Thryonomyidae (Cane rats)Cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus)

-Erethizontidae (New World porcupines)North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)

-Chinchillidae (Chinchillas & viscachas)Chinchilla (Chinchilla), Viscacha (Lagidium)

-Dinomyidae (Pacarana)Pacarana (Dinomys branickii)

-Caviidae (Guinea pigs, Capybaras)Guinea pig (Cavia), Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)

-Dasyproctidae (Agoutis)Agouti (Dasyprocta)

-Cuniculidae (Pacas)Paca (Cuniculus paca)

-Ctenomyidae (Tuco-tucos)Tuco-tucos (Ctenomys)

-Octodontidae (Degus and allies)Degu (Octodon), Coruro (Spalacopus)

-Abrocomidae (Chinchilla rats)Abrocoma (Chinchilla rat)

-Echimyidae (Spiny rats)Spiny rats (Echimys), Spiny mice (Proechimys)

-Myocastoridae (Nutria)Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

-Capromyidae (Hutias)Hutias (Capromys, Geocapromys)

IV. Summary

Rodents exemplify one of the most successful mammalian radiations, showcasing extensive ecological and morphological diversity. Originating in the Paleocene-Eocene, they spread worldwide, occupying niches from subterranean habitats (mole-rats) to arboreal canopies (squirrels), from aquatic environments (beavers) to grassland ecosystems (marmots, prairie dogs). Their unparalleled adaptability, prolific reproduction, and dental specialization have secured their dominant position as the most species-rich order of mammals.

Carnivora Primates Rodents Chiroptera Eulipotyphla Ungulata Cetacea Lagoiformes Pangolins Proboscidea Monotremata
Dryomys nitedula

Dryomys nitedula

Dryomys nitedula,Dormouse,Dyromys milleri,Mus nitedula Pallas,Eliomys angelus

Rodents LC

Features:The body is medium in size, with a dirty grey tail, slightly darker than the back of the body. The tip of the tail is slightly white, the feet are white, and the eye sockets are black.

There are 9 genera and 28 species of forest dormouse in the world. They belong to 3 subfamilies. There are 2 genera and 2 species in China, belonging to the forest dormouse subfamily (Leithiinae). Dormouse rodents are a group of very special animals. Most of them are like small squirrels, with soft...

Aeretes melanopterus

Aeretes melanopterus

Aeretes melanopterus,North Chinese flying squirrel,Black-winged flying squirrel

Rodents LC

Features:A medium-sized flying squirrel with a flat, rounded tail that is almost as long as or longer than its body.

Grooved-toothed flying squirrels like to build nests in tree holes of tall trees. The nests are built in dead tree holes, with the hole openings ranging from 5 to 10 meters from the ground. The hole openings are small, about 10 cm, and the hole depth is about 50 cm. The nests are made of birch bark...

Pteromys volans

Pteromys volans

Pteromys volans,Siberian Flying Squirrel,Flying squirrel, flying squirrel, flying tiger, small flying squirrel

Rodents LC

Features:It is small and very flexible, with short and thick limbs, a flat tail, and two colors of fur in winter and summer: brown-gray in summer and yellow-gray in winter.

Flying squirrels do not hibernate. They are nocturnal and are active after dusk, but can occasionally be seen during the day. When disturbed during the day, they slowly crawl to the entrance of their caves. Some of them jump out and glide downwards. After landing, they quickly climb up the nearest t...

Petaurista xanthotis

Petaurista xanthotis

Petaurista xanthotis , Highland Flying Squirrel, Yellow-eared Flying Squirrel

Rodents LC

Features:The head is short and round, the tail is fluffy, thick and rudder-shaped, and its length is generally longer than the body.

Gray flying squirrels are nocturnal and active at dawn and dusk. They live in subalpine coniferous forests or mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests at an altitude of about 3,000 meters. They have strong gliding ability and usually build nests in tree holes of tall trees or rock holes higher than...

Petaurista albiventer

Petaurista albiventer

Petaurista albiventer,Brown-footed flying squirrel, red-backed flying squirrel, flying fox, flying mouse

Rodents LC

Features:Its tail is very thin and longer than its body. It has a cat-like body but a fox-like head and sharp claws and fangs.

The chestnut-backed flying squirrel is a species of Chinese flying squirrel. The chestnut-backed flying squirrel, also known as the red-backed flying squirrel or the brown-footed flying squirrel, is a rare wild animal with important economic and scientific research value announced by the state in 20...

Petaurista magnificus

Petaurista magnificus

Petaurista magnificus,Magnificent Flying Squirrel,Beautiful flying squirrel, Beautiful flying squirrel, Hao's flying squirrel

Rodents LC

Features:It is large in size, with a thick and round tail that is no longer than the body.

The chestnut brown flying squirrel mainly lives in the mountain evergreen broad-leaved forest belt below 2500m above sea level, where the vegetation consists of Castanopsis, Carle, Oak and other tree species; the climate of its habitat is warm, and the frost-free period is generally more than 200 da...

Petaurista caniceps

Petaurista caniceps

Petaurista caniceps, small flying squirrel, small flying squirrel, flying squirrel, flying tiger

Rodents LC

Features:The back hair is dark brown, the belly hair is deep orange-red, the tail is longer than the body, and the tail hair is fluffy.

The gray-headed flying squirrel is medium-sized, arboreal, and usually moves alone. It is a nocturnal animal, spending most of its time in trees, sleeping in tree holes during the day, and coming out at night to find food. Young leaves, seeds, fruits and flower buds are its favorites. Flying squirre...

Petaurista alborufus

Petaurista alborufus

Petaurista alborufus,Red-and-white Giant,Flying fox, pine cat, white-faced flying squirrel, white-headed flying squirrel, white-fronted flying squirrel

Rodents LC

Features:It has a short and round head, large eyes, chestnut eye rims, particularly large pupils, red and white fur, and a tail that is almost as long as the body.

Red and white flying squirrels are large flying squirrels with a body shape very similar to that of squirrels. They live in forest areas on hillsides or in limestone shelters at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, mainly in dense forests of tall trees such as poplars, walnuts, and birches.During the...

Trogopterus xanthipes

Trogopterus xanthipes

Trogopterus xanthipes,Orange-footed flying squirrel, yellow-footed flying squirrel, cuckoo bird, cuckoo bug, cuckoo bug, magpie

Rodents LC

Features:It has a medium body size, a slightly flat tail that is as long as the body, a round head with big eyes, a short snout, and well-developed, round and wide ears.

The flying squirrel is a forest animal endemic to China. It is slightly larger than the red-bellied squirrel and lives mostly in mountain cypress forests at an altitude of about 1,200 meters. It often builds nests in steep caves, cracks in rocks, and tree holes. The nests are relatively small and ar...

Belomys pearsonii Gray

Belomys pearsonii Gray

Belomys pearsonii Gray,Hairy-footed Flying Squirrel,Brown-eared mouse, hairy-legged mouse

Rodents LC

Features:It is a larger species among the small flying squirrels. There is a notch on the dorsal edge of the ear and a tuft of long hair on the front and back of the ear stem.

The hairy-eared flying squirrel is a tropical small flying squirrel that usually lives in pairs at night and does not hibernate. It comes out of its hole at dusk to look for food. It mainly feeds on the tender branches, leaves, flower buds and fruits of various plants, such as banyan fruit and mango...

Marmota sibirica

Marmota sibirica

Marmota sibirica,,Marmota bobak,Bobak Marmot,Siberian marmot, steppe marmot, Tarbagan (Mongolian)

Rodents LC

Features:It has a large and sturdy body, short round ears and a short tail, and its fur is brown or yellowish brown.

The Mongolian marmot is a rodent, Marmota genus animal. There are two color types, one is brown and the other is yellow-brown; it lives in mountainous areas above 1500m above sea level or hilly grassland areas above 600m, avoiding deserts, but occasionally seen in the marginal areas where grasslands...

Marmota himalayana

Marmota himalayana

Marmota himalayana,Hara, Snow Pig

Rodents LC

Features:The body is brownish yellow with scattered black markings, the body is stout and fat, and the tail is short.

The Himalayan marmot is a large ground-dwelling rodent mammal of the genus Marmot. It widely inhabits the meadow grasslands of the Tibetan Plateau and alpine grasslands at 1500-4500m. Their numbers do not vary significantly depending on the different vegetation communities on the meadow grasslands....

Marmota caudata

Marmota caudata

Marmota caudata,Long-tailed Marmot,Red marmot, Marmot

Rodents LC

Features:The tail is the longest among all marmots, exceeding half the length of the body. The fur on the back and sides is brown-red, so it is also called the red marmot.

The long-tailed marmot is a large terrestrial rodent of the Sciuridae family and the genus Marmota. It is slightly smaller than the gray marmot, and has the longest tail among all species of the genus Marmota, averaging about 38% or half of the body length. The fur is long and fluffy, rough and less...

Marmota baibacina

Marmota baibacina

Marmota baibacina,Altai Marmot,Tianshan marmot, Altai marmot

Rodents LC

Features:It has a short and thick body, long and soft fur, and the fur on the back is sandy yellow or sandy brown.

The gray marmot (scientific name: Marmota baibacina), also known as the Tianshan marmot and the Altai marmot, is a large terrestrial rodent mammal belonging to the order Rodentia, the family Sciuridae, and the genus Marmota. The gray marmot is a typical grassland rodent, mainly inhabiting places wit...

Spermophilus relictus

Spermophilus relictus

Spermophilus relictus,Tien Shan Ground Squirrel,Yellow rat

Rodents LC

Features:Its body size is similar to that of the red-cheeked yellow squirrel, but its tail is longer than that of the red-cheeked yellow squirrel.

The Tianshan yellow squirrel is of medium size and has a long tail. It mainly inhabits the gentle slopes of the hills in front of the mountains, small basins between mountains, and relatively dry areas on both sides of the river valley in the mountain grasslands at an altitude of 1000-1500 meters. O...

Spermophilus dauricus

Spermophilus dauricus

Spermophilus dauricus,Yellow mouse, Mongolian yellow mouse, prairie yellow mouse, bean mouse, big-eyed thief

Rodents LC

Features:The body is fat, the tail is short, and the back hair is brown. The age of the mouse is determined by body length and weight. The older the mouse is, the longer the incisors are, the darker the color, and the longer the body length is.

Daurian ground squirrel is a group of scattered animals, diurnal, one of the representative species of the northern grassland, but occasionally go out of the hole to forage at night. The activity pattern has seasonal changes. The time of ground activity of ground squirrels varies with the season. Us...

Spermophilus undulatus

Spermophilus undulatus

Spermophilus undulatus,Long-tailed Ground Squirrel,Bean rat, big-eyed thief

Rodents LC

Features:The long-tailed yellow squirrel is large in size, with the longest tail and largest body in the genus Yellow squirrel. It has long black claws, short ears, gray-brown back in summer, and its belly is mostly brown or rusty brown.

The long-tailed yellow squirrel is an animal of the Sciuridae family and the genus Squirrel. It mainly inhabits high mountains at 1700-3000m and relatively humid piedmont hills, forest edges and river valleys. The vegetation types are mostly mountain grasslands, forest grasslands and subalpine meado...

Spermophilus erythrogenys

Spermophilus erythrogenys

Spermophilus erythrogenys,Red-cheeked Ground Squirrel,Pale-tailed yellow squirrel

Rodents LC

Features:The back of the body from the top of the head to the base of the tail is sandy yellow, or grayish yellow with gray-black tones.

Red-cheeked yellow squirrel is an animal of the Sciuridae family and the genus Squirrel. It inhabits low mountain grasslands, piedmont hilly grasslands and semi-desert plains. In some places, it can rise along the river valley to the mountain grasslands of the mid-mountain belt at an altitude of 1,5...

Spermophilus alaschanicus Buchner

Spermophilus alaschanicus Buchner

Spermophilus alaschanicus Buchner, field mouse, Daurian ground mouse, Mongolian ground mouse, prairie ground mouse, big-eyed thief, bean mouse

Rodents LC

Features:The eyes are large and protruding, the external ears are degenerate, the limbs are balanced, the front claws are sharp, and the middle finger is particularly developed, which is a useful tool for digging holes.

The Alashan yellow rat was originally listed as a subspecies of the Daurian yellow rat, and became an independent valid species in 1975. It lives in grasslands and semi-desert environments. It is diurnal. It feeds on the roots, stems, leaves and seeds of herbaceous plants, and also eats insects. It...

Tamias sibiricus

Tamias sibiricus

Tamias sibiricus, birch mouse, five-browed squirrel, flower civet stick, chipmunk

Rodents LC

Features:There are several parallel longitudinal stripes of light and dark on the back of the body.

Chipmunks belong to the genus Chipmunk of the family Sciuridae. They are named for the several light and dark parallel vertical stripes on their backs. They are medium-sized, with long tails and long, fluffy, broom-like tail hairs that extend to both sides. They have slightly long limbs, and their e...

Sciurotamias davidianus

Sciurotamias davidianus

Sciurotamias davidianus,David’s rock squirrel,Sweeper, Stone Rat

Rodents LC

Features:This squirrel has the strongest reproductive capacity, with eight babies in one litter. It also loves to steal.

Rock squirrels belong to the family Sciuridae in the order Rodentia and are endemic to China. They are medium-sized, with fluffy tail hair that is sparser than the back hair, and a certain amount of all-black needle hair mixed in the middle.Rock squirrels are semi-arboreal and semi-terrestrial squir...