Everything about Muridae totally explained
Muridae is the largest family of
mammals. It contains over 600 species found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. They have been introduced worldwide. The group includes true
mice and
rats,
gerbils, and relatives.
The family name Muridae is sometimes used in a broader sense to include all members of the superfamily
Muroidea.
Characteristics
The murids are small mammals, typically around 10 cm long excluding the
tail, but ranging from 4.5 to 8 cm in the
Pygmy Mouse to 48 cm in
Cuming's Slender-tailed Cloud Rat. They typically have a slender body with a scaled tail, and pointed snouts with prominent
whiskers. However, within these broad traits, there's a wide degree of variation. Many murids have elongated legs and feet allowing them to move with a hopping motion, while others have broad feet and
prehensile tails to improve their climbing ability, and yet others have neither adaptation. They are most commonly some shade of brown in colour, although many have black, grey, or white markings.
Murids generally have excellent senses of
hearing and
smell. They live in a wide range of habitats from
forest to
grassland, and
mountain ranges. A number of species, especially the
gerbils, are adapted to arid
desert conditions, and can survive for a long time with minimal
water. They are either
herbivores or
omnivores, eating a wide range of foods in different species, with the aid of powerful
jaw muscles and gnawing
incisors that grow throughout life. The
dental formula of mice is:
Murids breed frequently, often producing large litters several times per year. They typically give birth between 20 and 40 days after mating, although this varies greatly between species. The young are typically born blind, hairless, and helpless, although there are exceptions, such as the
spiny mice.
Classification
The Murids are classified in 4
subfamilies, around 140
genera and approximately 650
species.
Subfamilies
Further Information
Get more info on 'Muridae'.
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