Diversity
The superfamily Muroidea includes most of the familiar rats and mice, but it also
encompasses an enormously diverse array of other rodents. Currently there are 1517
recognized species and 310 genera of muroid rodents. These are divided among six
families:
Platacanthomyidae
(Oriental dormice),
Spalacidae
(zokors, blind mole-rats, bamboo rats, root rats),
Calomyscidae
(mouse-like hamsters),
Nesomyidae
(climbing mice, African rock mice, Malagasy rats and mice, swamp mice, pouched rats,
white-tailed rat),
Cricetidae
(hamsters, voles, lemmings, New World rats and mice), and
Muridae
(true mice and rats, gerbils).
Geographic Range
Members of the superfamily Muroidea can be found on all continents except Antarctica
and on many oceanic islands.
- Biogeographic Regions
- nearctic
- palearctic
- oriental
- ethiopian
- neotropical
- australian
- oceanic islands
- Other Geographic Terms
- holarctic
- cosmopolitan
- island endemic
Habitat
Muroid rodents occupy ecosystems ranging from dry desert to wet tropical forest, from
tundra to savanna to temperate woodland. Some species are semiaquatic; others live
underground; yet others spend their entire lives in the canopy of tropical forest.
- Habitat Regions
- temperate
- tropical
- polar
- terrestrial
- Terrestrial Biomes
- tundra
- taiga
- desert or dune
- savanna or grassland
- chaparral
- forest
- rainforest
- scrub forest
- mountains
- Aquatic Biomes
- lakes and ponds
- rivers and streams
- Other Habitat Features
- urban
- suburban
- agricultural
- riparian
Physical Description
A number of characters link most muroids. Not surprisingly, even the most basic characters are subject to continuing evolutionary change; most of the characters listed as diagnostic in the next paragraph do in fact show some variation within the group. All, however, are believed to have characterized primitive muroids.
In the
skull
of muroids, the
infraorbital foramen
, which primitively transmits nerves to the rostral region of the skull, lies mostly
above the
zygomatic plate
. It is enlarged above for the passage of a slip of muscle that inserts on the lower
jaw, and narrowed in its lower region, through which pass nerves and blood vessels
en route to the rostrum. The foramen thus has a distinctive "keyhole" shape in most
forms (but the narrow ventral portion is lost in a few species). The zygomatic plate,
formed by the anterior base of the
zygomatic arch
, is broad and a conspicuous feature of the cranium. From it arise other parts of
the same muscle (the
masseter
) that passes through the infraorbital foramen. The
jugal
, one of the bones that participates in the zygomatic arch, is small and does not
contact the
lacrimal
. The
frontals
are constricted above the orbits and there is no
postorbital process
or bar. Posteriorly, an
interparietal bone
is present and usually conspicuous.
The lower jaw is
sciurognathus
. As in all rodents, one upper and one lower
incisor
are always found on each side of the jaw, and
canines
are always absent. Following the incisor is a
diastema
.
Canines
and
premolars
are never present. No more than three
molars
occur on each side, but this number is sometimes reduced to two or even one. The
nature of the molars (shape, size, surface structure, number of roots) varies greatly.
Four clawed digits are found on each forefoot (the pollex or "thumb" is small and
bears a nail); the hind foot in most has five clawed digits (but sometimes the hallux
or first toe has a nail). Other external features (ears, eyes, tail, pelage, etc.)
are extremely variable. To compound this variability, some populations of some species
are polymorphic, and some exhibit sexual dimorphism in body size.
- Other Physical Features
- endothermic
- homoiothermic
- bilateral symmetry
- polymorphic
- Sexual Dimorphism
- sexes alike
- female larger
- male larger
Reproduction
Muroids have monogamous, polygynous, and polygynandrous mating systems. Most commonly,
they are polygynandrous, with males and females each having multiple mates over the
course of a breeding period.
- Mating System
- monogamous
- polygynous
- polygynandrous (promiscuous)
Given the incredible diversity of this group, it is nearly impossible to generalize
about the life-history characteristics of its members. The "typical" muroid species
is characterized by a "fast" life: high reproductive output at an early age and a
high mortality rate. The high reproductive output is made possible in many species
by a postpartum estrus, which allows females to become pregnant again immediately
after giving birth. Sometimes implantation of the embryos is delayed until after
a female stops lactating, and in some species, the act of mating itself induces ovulation.
- Key Reproductive Features
- semelparous
- iteroparous
- seasonal breeding
- year-round breeding
- gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate)
- sexual
- induced ovulation
- fertilization
- viviparous
- delayed implantation
- post-partum estrous
Muroid mothers, like all female mammals, provide their young with milk until the young
can eat solid food. Many muroid females build nests in which they raise and care
for their young, which range from altricial to precocial. Male parental care is rare
in this group, but it does occur in a few species. In most muroid species, the young
disperse soon after they are weaned, but in a few, they stay with their parents for
more than one breeding season.
Lifespan/Longevity
Most muroids face a large array of predators and put all of their energy into a high
reproductive output early in life, and therefore do not live more than a year or two
in the wild. Captivity often extends the lifespan by several years.
Behavior
Muroid rodents run the gamut of behaviors, from nocturnal to diurnal, from arboreal
to fossorial, from solitary to colonial. There are muroid rodents specialized for
climbing, burrowing, swimming, and hopping, and there are those that are generalists
and are fairly good at doing all of the above.
- Key Behaviors
- arboreal
- scansorial
- cursorial
- terricolous
- fossorial
- saltatorial
- natatorial
- diurnal
- nocturnal
- crepuscular
- motile
- nomadic
- migratory
- sedentary
- aestivation
- daily torpor
- solitary
- territorial
- social
- colonial
- dominance hierarchies
Communication and Perception
To avoid the many predators that they face, and to find food and mates, muroid rodents
have evolved acute visual, acoustic, tactile, and chemical senses, but the relative
importance of these for each species varies widely. The means by which muroid rodents
communicate also varies between species. A common theme in mammalian communication
is the use of pheromones, which are used widely by muroid rodents to send and receive
signals about an individual's status. In addition, some communicate using sounds
(including ultrasounds) or vibrations.
- Other Communication Modes
- pheromones
- scent marks
- vibrations
- Perception Channels
- visual
- tactile
- acoustic
- ultrasound
- vibrations
- chemical
Food Habits
Muroid food habits range from true omnivores to generalist herbivores to specialists
on insects, earthworms, subterranean fungi, and even aquatic invertebrates. Many
species, especially herbivorous species, store their surplus food for later use.
- Primary Diet
-
carnivore
- eats terrestrial vertebrates
- piscivore
- eats eggs
- insectivore
- eats non-insect arthropods
- molluscivore
- scavenger
- herbivore
- omnivore
- mycophage
- Foraging Behavior
- stores or caches food
Predation
Muroid rodents, as a group, have predators belonging to nearly every class of vertebrates,
including
birds
and other
reptiles
,
amphibians
,
fish
, and other
mammals
. To avoid their numerous predators, muroid rodents have evolved strategies of hiding,
running, swimming, hopping, climbing, and biting. There are even those that, when
grabbed, lose their tails and buy themselves enough time to escape. One unique species,
Lophiomys imhausi
, is aposematic, exudes a musky odor, and may be a
porcupine
mimic through the use of stiff, erectile hairs.
- Anti-predator Adaptations
- mimic
- aposematic
- cryptic
Ecosystem Roles
Some muroid rodents may be essential ("keystone") species in maintaining the health
of forests, through their role in spreading mycorrhizal fungi or dispersing seeds.
Others affect the rate of forest succession by preying on tree seedlings. Some species
are important pollinators. Others dig tunnels, and in doing so, create habitat for
other species and aerate the soil. Many species are a vital food source for a wide
range of predators, and muroids as a group support many different kinds of parasites,
such as
ticks and mites
,
fleas
,
lice
,
bot flies
,
nematodes
,
tapeworms
, and trypanosomes. Finally, a few muroid species are commensal with humans, inhabiting
cities and towns and relying on human-produced waste to survive.
- Ecosystem Impact
- disperses seeds
- pollinates
- creates habitat
- soil aeration
- keystone species
- humans ( Homo sapiens )
- ticks and mites ( Acari )
- fleas ( Siphonaptera )
- lice ( Anoplura )
- bot flies ( Sarcophagidae )
- nematodes ( Nematoda )
- tapeworms ( Cestoda )
- trypanosomes
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
Many muroid species are beneficial to man. Some are important biological controls
of pest insects. Some are popular pets. Others are hunted for their meat, their
skins, or their bones (which may be used in traditional medicine). And a few species
play an essential role in medical research that has been enormously beneficial to
human populations.
- Positive Impacts
- pet trade
- food
- body parts are source of valuable material
- source of medicine or drug
- research and education
- controls pest population
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
Some muroid species cause millions of dollars of damage to agricultural lands and
stored foods. Several are pests that destroy household goods, cause structural damage,
and even start fires by gnawing on electrical wires. Others are the vectors or reservoirs
of a number of diseases that have periodically devasted human populations (and continue
to do so).
- Negative Impacts
-
injures humans
- carries human disease
- crop pest
- household pest
Conservation Status
Almost 26% of muroid species are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This
includes 32 critically endangered species and 70 endangered species. Many of the
threatened muroid species are endemic, and their restricted ranges render them especially
vulnerable to habitat destruction and fragmentation, the two main threats to this
and many other taxonomic groups. Few steps have been taken to save threatened muroid
species; they are not particularly charismatic or popular with the public and in many
cases there is simply not enough known about them to know where to begin.
Additional Links
Contributors
Phil Myers (author), Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Allison Poor (author), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web.
- Nearctic
-
living in the Nearctic biogeographic province, the northern part of the New World. This includes Greenland, the Canadian Arctic islands, and all of the North American as far south as the highlands of central Mexico.
- introduced
-
referring to animal species that have been transported to and established populations in regions outside of their natural range, usually through human action.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Palearctic
-
living in the northern part of the Old World. In otherwords, Europe and Asia and northern Africa.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- oriental
-
found in the oriental region of the world. In other words, India and southeast Asia.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Ethiopian
-
living in sub-Saharan Africa (south of 30 degrees north) and Madagascar.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Neotropical
-
living in the southern part of the New World. In other words, Central and South America.
- introduced
-
referring to animal species that have been transported to and established populations in regions outside of their natural range, usually through human action.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- Australian
-
Living in Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, New Guinea and associated islands.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- oceanic islands
-
islands that are not part of continental shelf areas, they are not, and have never been, connected to a continental land mass, most typically these are volcanic islands.
- introduced
-
referring to animal species that have been transported to and established populations in regions outside of their natural range, usually through human action.
- native range
-
the area in which the animal is naturally found, the region in which it is endemic.
- holarctic
-
a distribution that more or less circles the Arctic, so occurring in both the Nearctic and Palearctic biogeographic regions.
Found in northern North America and northern Europe or Asia.
- cosmopolitan
-
having a worldwide distribution. Found on all continents (except maybe Antarctica) and in all biogeographic provinces; or in all the major oceans (Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific.
- island endemic
-
animals that live only on an island or set of islands.
- temperate
-
that region of the Earth between 23.5 degrees North and 60 degrees North (between the Tropic of Cancer and the Arctic Circle) and between 23.5 degrees South and 60 degrees South (between the Tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic Circle).
- tropical
-
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator, from 23.5 degrees north to 23.5 degrees south.
- polar
-
the regions of the earth that surround the north and south poles, from the north pole to 60 degrees north and from the south pole to 60 degrees south.
- terrestrial
-
Living on the ground.
- tundra
-
A terrestrial biome with low, shrubby or mat-like vegetation found at extremely high latitudes or elevations, near the limit of plant growth. Soils usually subject to permafrost. Plant diversity is typically low and the growing season is short.
- taiga
-
Coniferous or boreal forest, located in a band across northern North America, Europe, and Asia. This terrestrial biome also occurs at high elevations. Long, cold winters and short, wet summers. Few species of trees are present; these are primarily conifers that grow in dense stands with little undergrowth. Some deciduous trees also may be present.
- desert or dunes
-
in deserts low (less than 30 cm per year) and unpredictable rainfall results in landscapes dominated by plants and animals adapted to aridity. Vegetation is typically sparse, though spectacular blooms may occur following rain. Deserts can be cold or warm and daily temperates typically fluctuate. In dune areas vegetation is also sparse and conditions are dry. This is because sand does not hold water well so little is available to plants. In dunes near seas and oceans this is compounded by the influence of salt in the air and soil. Salt limits the ability of plants to take up water through their roots.
- tropical savanna and grassland
-
A terrestrial biome. Savannas are grasslands with scattered individual trees that do not form a closed canopy. Extensive savannas are found in parts of subtropical and tropical Africa and South America, and in Australia.
- savanna
-
A grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps of trees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest. See also Tropical savanna and grassland biome.
- temperate grassland
-
A terrestrial biome found in temperate latitudes (>23.5° N or S latitude). Vegetation is made up mostly of grasses, the height and species diversity of which depend largely on the amount of moisture available. Fire and grazing are important in the long-term maintenance of grasslands.
- chaparral
-
Found in coastal areas between 30 and 40 degrees latitude, in areas with a Mediterranean climate. Vegetation is dominated by stands of dense, spiny shrubs with tough (hard or waxy) evergreen leaves. May be maintained by periodic fire. In South America it includes the scrub ecotone between forest and paramo.
- forest
-
forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality.
- rainforest
-
rainforests, both temperate and tropical, are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground. Epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant. Precipitation is typically not limiting, but may be somewhat seasonal.
- scrub forest
-
scrub forests develop in areas that experience dry seasons.
- mountains
-
This terrestrial biome includes summits of high mountains, either without vegetation or covered by low, tundra-like vegetation.
- marsh
-
marshes are wetland areas often dominated by grasses and reeds.
- swamp
-
a wetland area that may be permanently or intermittently covered in water, often dominated by woody vegetation.
- bog
-
a wetland area rich in accumulated plant material and with acidic soils surrounding a body of open water. Bogs have a flora dominated by sedges, heaths, and sphagnum.
- urban
-
living in cities and large towns, landscapes dominated by human structures and activity.
- suburban
-
living in residential areas on the outskirts of large cities or towns.
- agricultural
-
living in landscapes dominated by human agriculture.
- riparian
-
Referring to something living or located adjacent to a waterbody (usually, but not always, a river or stream).
- endothermic
-
animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. Endothermy is a synapomorphy of the Mammalia, although it may have arisen in a (now extinct) synapsid ancestor; the fossil record does not distinguish these possibilities. Convergent in birds.
- bilateral symmetry
-
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror-image halves. Animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides, as well as anterior and posterior ends. Synapomorphy of the Bilateria.
- polymorphic
-
"many forms." A species is polymorphic if its individuals can be divided into two or more easily recognized groups, based on structure, color, or other similar characteristics. The term only applies when the distinct groups can be found in the same area; graded or clinal variation throughout the range of a species (e.g. a north-to-south decrease in size) is not polymorphism. Polymorphic characteristics may be inherited because the differences have a genetic basis, or they may be the result of environmental influences. We do not consider sexual differences (i.e. sexual dimorphism), seasonal changes (e.g. change in fur color), or age-related changes to be polymorphic. Polymorphism in a local population can be an adaptation to prevent density-dependent predation, where predators preferentially prey on the most common morph.
- monogamous
-
Having one mate at a time.
- polygynous
-
having more than one female as a mate at one time
- polygynandrous
-
the kind of polygamy in which a female pairs with several males, each of which also pairs with several different females.
- semelparous
-
offspring are all produced in a single group (litter, clutch, etc.), after which the parent usually dies. Semelparous organisms often only live through a single season/year (or other periodic change in conditions) but may live for many seasons. In both cases reproduction occurs as a single investment of energy in offspring, with no future chance for investment in reproduction.
- iteroparous
-
offspring are produced in more than one group (litters, clutches, etc.) and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes).
- seasonal breeding
-
breeding is confined to a particular season
- year-round breeding
-
breeding takes place throughout the year
- sexual
-
reproduction that includes combining the genetic contribution of two individuals, a male and a female
- induced ovulation
-
ovulation is stimulated by the act of copulation (does not occur spontaneously)
- fertilization
-
union of egg and spermatozoan
- internal fertilization
-
fertilization takes place within the female's body
- viviparous
-
reproduction in which fertilization and development take place within the female body and the developing embryo derives nourishment from the female.
- delayed implantation
-
in mammals, a condition in which a fertilized egg reaches the uterus but delays its implantation in the uterine lining, sometimes for several months.
- altricial
-
young are born in a relatively underdeveloped state; they are unable to feed or care for themselves or locomote independently for a period of time after birth/hatching. In birds, naked and helpless after hatching.
- young precocial
-
young are relatively well-developed when born
- arboreal
-
Referring to an animal that lives in trees; tree-climbing.
- fossorial
-
Referring to a burrowing life-style or behavior, specialized for digging or burrowing.
- saltatorial
-
specialized for leaping or bounding locomotion; jumps or hops.
- natatorial
-
specialized for swimming
- diurnal
-
- active during the day, 2. lasting for one day.
- nocturnal
-
active during the night
- crepuscular
-
active at dawn and dusk
- motile
-
having the capacity to move from one place to another.
- nomadic
-
generally wanders from place to place, usually within a well-defined range.
- migratory
-
makes seasonal movements between breeding and wintering grounds
- sedentary
-
remains in the same area
- solitary
-
lives alone
- territorial
-
defends an area within the home range, occupied by a single animals or group of animals of the same species and held through overt defense, display, or advertisement
- social
-
associates with others of its species; forms social groups.
- colonial
-
used loosely to describe any group of organisms living together or in close proximity to each other - for example nesting shorebirds that live in large colonies. More specifically refers to a group of organisms in which members act as specialized subunits (a continuous, modular society) - as in clonal organisms.
- dominance hierarchies
-
ranking system or pecking order among members of a long-term social group, where dominance status affects access to resources or mates
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- pheromones
-
chemicals released into air or water that are detected by and responded to by other animals of the same species
- scent marks
-
communicates by producing scents from special gland(s) and placing them on a surface whether others can smell or taste them
- vibrations
-
movements of a hard surface that are produced by animals as signals to others
- visual
-
uses sight to communicate
- tactile
-
uses touch to communicate
- acoustic
-
uses sound to communicate
- ultrasound
-
uses sound above the range of human hearing for either navigation or communication or both
- vibrations
-
movements of a hard surface that are produced by animals as signals to others
- chemical
-
uses smells or other chemicals to communicate
- stores or caches food
-
places a food item in a special place to be eaten later. Also called "hoarding"
- aposematic
-
having coloration that serves a protective function for the animal, usually used to refer to animals with colors that warn predators of their toxicity. For example: animals with bright red or yellow coloration are often toxic or distasteful.
- cryptic
-
having markings, coloration, shapes, or other features that cause an animal to be camouflaged in its natural environment; being difficult to see or otherwise detect.
- soil aeration
-
digs and breaks up soil so air and water can get in
- keystone species
-
a species whose presence or absence strongly affects populations of other species in that area such that the extirpation of the keystone species in an area will result in the ultimate extirpation of many more species in that area (Example: sea otter).
- pet trade
-
the business of buying and selling animals for people to keep in their homes as pets.
- food
-
A substance that provides both nutrients and energy to a living thing.
- drug
-
a substance used for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease
- carnivore
-
an animal that mainly eats meat
- piscivore
-
an animal that mainly eats fish
- insectivore
-
An animal that eats mainly insects or spiders.
- molluscivore
-
eats mollusks, members of Phylum Mollusca
- scavenger
-
an animal that mainly eats dead animals
- herbivore
-
An animal that eats mainly plants or parts of plants.
- folivore
-
an animal that mainly eats leaves.
- frugivore
-
an animal that mainly eats fruit
- granivore
-
an animal that mainly eats seeds
- omnivore
-
an animal that mainly eats all kinds of things, including plants and animals
- mycophage
-
an animal that mainly eats fungus
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