Rodentia is an order of placental mammals. Members of this order are called rodents. The order comprises 2,361 extant species, which are grouped into 513 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 plus a tail, to the capybara, at plus a 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 is composed of three families and includes beavers, gophers, kangaroo rats, and pocket mice. There are 18 families in Hystricomorpha, which 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. The final three families of the order are in Sciuromorpha, which 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 2,361 extant species belonging to 513 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 Superfamily Chinchilloidea Family Dinomyidae (pacarana): 1 genus, 1 species Family Chinchillidae (chinchillas and viscachas): 2 genera, 7 species (1 extinct) Superfamily Erethizontoidea Family Erethizontidae (New World porcupines) Subfamily Chaetomyinae (bristle-spined rat): 1 genus, 1 species Subfamily Erethizontinae (prehensile-tailed porcupines): 2 genera, 17 species Superfamily Octodontoidea Family Abrocomidae (chinchilla rats): 2 genera, 10 species Family Capromyidae (hutias) Subfamily Capromyinae (hutias): 4 genera, 11 species (2 extinct) Subfamily Hexolobodontinae (imposter hutia): 1 genus, 1 species (1 extinct) Subfamily Isolobodontinae (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, 60 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 Heteropsomyinae (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): 9 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
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. Dasyproctidae comprises fifteen extant species which are divided into two genera.
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 Erethizontoidea 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 Octodontoidea Family Abrocomidae