Order RodentiaGnawing Mammals

Lindsey Keiser

Order Rodentia

• Largest order of mammals – Over 2000 living species

placed in 30 families– Over 40% of mammalian

species belong to this order

Rodentia Skulls

• Only have one pair of upper and lower incisors– Each incisor is rootless,

growing continuously– Have enamel on the

anterior and lateral surface

• Has a gap (diastema) between incisors and premolars

Sciuridae: Squirrels

Red SquirrelTamiasciurus hudsonicus

• Likes to nest in evergreen trees

• Eats-insects, seeds, bark, nuts, fruits– Will cut green pine

cones from trees and store them in piles called middens

• Can be very loud and chatters , growls, and screeches

Gray SquirrelSciurus carolinensis

• Prefers a woodland habitat

• Eats-mainly tree seeds– In winter will use

scatter hoarding to preserve food

• Can leap more then 20 feet

Fox SquirrelSciurus niger

• Likes to live in a more open habitat then the gray and red squirrels

• Called “fox” squirrel cause of reddish color

Northern Flying SquirrelGlaucomys sabrinus

• Likes coniferous forests• Eats-fungi, seeds,

insects, berries

Southern Flying SquirrelGlaucomys volans

• Likes deciduous forests• Doesn’t fly, but glides • More common then

the Northern Flying Squirrel

Eastern ChipmunkTamias striatus

• Have cheek pouches where they store food

• Have strips on their faces

• There are 22 species of chipmunks– 1 in east ,21 in west

WoodchuckMarmota monax

• Also called groundhog

• Herbivores- primarily grazers– Can eat up to 0.67kg

of food• Hibernators

– Hibernate October thru April

CastoridaeBeavers

Castor canadensis

• Is our largest rodent• Adults can be up to 4

feet long and weigh over 60lbs

• When it slaps its tail it’s a signal of danger or its to warn away predators

• It can remain under water for as long as 15 minutes

Cricetidae: Native Rats, Mice & Voles

MuskratOndatra zibethicus

• Mainly nocturnal• Feed on aquatic plants• Scent mark their

territories, this is where they get their name

• Scaly, hairless tail that is different from a beavers

Muridae: Old World Rats & MiceNorway Rat

Rattus norvegicusHouse MouseMus musculus

Zapodidae: Jumping MiceMeadow Jumping Mouse

Zapus hudsonicusWoodland Jumping Mouse

Napeozapus insignis

Erethizontidae: PorcupinesPorcupine

Erethizon dorsatum

• May have up to 30,000 quills– Quills-hairs with barbed

tips– Uses quills for defense, can

not shoot them• No real predators, except

the fisher• In the winter it will eat

the inner bark of the trees– In summer its diet will

change