Rodents

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Types of Rodents

Rodents are a diverse group of mammals characterized by their continuously growing incisors. Below is a list of the common types of rodents categorized by their habitats and behaviors:

Household Rodents

  1. House Mouse (Mus musculus)
  2. Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus)
  3. Roof Rat (Rattus rattus)

Field Rodents

  1. Field Mouse (Apodemus spp.)
  2. Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus)
  3. Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus)
  4. Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys spp.)

Burrowing Rodents

  1. Gophers (Geomys and Thomomys spp.)
  2. Moles (Talpidae spp.) – often mistakenly included due to burrowing habits.
  3. Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus spp.)
  4. Prairie Dogs (Cynomys spp.)

Tree and Arboreal Rodents

  1. Squirrels (Sciurus spp.)
    • Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
    • Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)
  2. Flying Squirrels (Glaucomys spp.)

Aquatic and Semi-Aquatic Rodents

  1. Beavers (Castor canadensis)
  2. Muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus)
  3. Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

Large Rodents

  1. Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)
  2. Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum)

Exotic and Lesser-Known Rodents

  1. Chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera)
  2. Agoutis (Dasyprocta spp.)
  3. Pacas (Cuniculus spp.)
  4. Degu (Octodon degus)
  5. Marmots (Marmota spp.)

Pest Rodents

  1. Roof Rat (Rattus rattus)
  2. House Mouse (Mus musculus)
  3. Norway Rat (Rattus norvegicus)

This list covers common and unique rodents found globally. Some rodents, such as rats and mice, are pests, while others, like chinchillas and capybaras, have domesticated or ecological importance

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