Rodents species with names. Rodent order: classification, characterization, nutrition, behavior, reproduction and significance. Interesting and informative facts about the life of rats

At least once in a lifetime, each person caught himself thinking about the need to have a pet. However, the lack of space or time often forces you to postpone the purchase of a cat or dog for an indefinite period. For those who have little free time and have a fear of confusion, buying a home rodent is a great option.

Popular domestic rodents

Domestic rodents are very popular pets, especially in children. However, before buying a small animal, you need to weigh all the pros and cons of each animal and choose the perfect little friend for yourself.

Hamsters are perhaps the most popular domestic rodents and this is not strange, because they are extremely unpretentious cute animals. These rodents are of two types: ordinary (large) and dwarf.The color of the animal depends on its breed and habitat and varies from gray to brown tones. It is customary for hamsters to start one at a time, because this is how they live in the wild, and therefore a companion will always be perceived as a competitor, even if they are of different sexes.

Important! The hamster will not immediately become a tame animal. However, his trust is very easy to get thanks to the delicacies that must be given from hand to foot.

Guinea pigs are also quite common as a pet. A cute large rodent has many colors and most often several colors in the form of shapeless spots are combined on the fur coat of the animal.

Pigs are very sociable animals that are always happy with their owner and willingly show him their feelings. They say that if something happened to the owner, a little friend can sympathize. And to make a pet happy in response is quite simple: pigs cannot stand loneliness, so it’s better to buy a couple right away, and to avoid undesirable offspring - same-sex.
  It is important to remember that this beast is very emotional and with any sharp sound or severe stress, the pig’s heart can literally burst.

Decorative rabbits have been very popular since the last century. He is a domesticated relative of the wild European rabbit.

Did you know?The needlepoint mice that live in the Middle East and Africa have unique regenerative abilities for mammals: in case of danger, they shed their skin, which then grows back with hair.

Long ears, a cute face and a variety of colors depending on the breed will not leave anyone indifferent. The owners of these animals will literally melt from tenderness when communicating with rabbits, because the nature of this animal is very friendly and almost never aggressive.

Best of all, rabbits live alone, but if there is a desire to have offspring, then it is better to keep the female and the male separately from each other.
  Oddly enough, rabbits are very devoted animals, but for this the owner needs to devote a large amount of time to the beast and endlessly stroke and treat the pet. If desired, these animals can be trained, but this must be done in the form of a game.

Chinchillas have become popular relatively recently. These incredible animals come from America, but, unfortunately, in many countries they are bred for commercial purposes - fur coats are sewn from their fur. But many people start this animal as a pet and often buy them a couple and not one, because these rodents are incredibly cute, friendly and it is a pleasure to watch their game.

Chinchillas come in several colors: the most popular are gray and black, the more rare are white and beige. The nature of this rodent depends on whether he was born in a family or on a farm, because the beast that has been communicating with people since childhood will be open and curious, while the one that lived only among brothers will be quiet and secretive.

Important!  Chinchillas really dislike squeezing against their will. If the animal wants affection, he will easily let you know about it, and if you try to keep it by force, you can get a well-aimed stream of urine (the animal expresses its dissatisfaction with this).

Chipmunks are a rarity in pet stores in Russia and Ukraine, but with a great desire, you can buy them at special farms. These babies are very similar to squirrels, however, on their back there are five characteristic black stripes, thanks to which it is simply impossible to mix up a chipmunk with any other rodent.

Chipmunks are very sociable, active pets, often not afraid of a person if he behaves quietly, accurately and without sudden movements. Taming a baby is quite simple: you need to constantly give him a treat and always out of hand, then he will remember that a person does not pose a threat to him, but, on the contrary, is a source of food.

You need to be prepared for the fact that the chipmunks love to stockpile, and therefore, even having a tight lunch, this sly person will beg for more nuts and other goodies.

Many do not like rats, because they think that these animals carry dirt and dangerous infections. It is, but this does not apply to decorative (domestic) rats. These animals are extremely neat and tidy, know where their home is, and can even carry out many commands. Rats are animals that are smart and smart. They know their nickname, they easily remember the command "to me" or "not."

  The colors of these animals are many, but the most popular are albino rats (white with red eyes).

Important! A serious drawback of this pet is its rather short lifespan - 2-3 years.

Chilean squirrel degu - a representative of South American rodents. The appearance of this animal combines several of its brothers: squirrel, chinchilla and jerboa. The color of the coat is usually dark or light brown, less often gray.
These squirrels are very popular as pets, because they are extremely friendlyquickly become attached to the person and become real friends to him. With proper education, degu can be trained.

It is better to start degu in pairs, because in the wild they live in families. An ideal option would be to purchase from two to five individuals.

Gerbil is a small rodent with a long tail covered with wool. The color of this animal is very diverse: from light to dark tones of brown. This animal is very active and curious, and caring for it will not be difficult.

Gerbils in the wild move quickly so as not to become prey for snakes, and therefore, if you want to let the baby out, you need to prepare the room well (hide all objects that can be nibbled and close all the cracks).

Did you know? Many types of mice lack clavicles, so animals can crawl into rather narrow places.

Features of caring for domestic rodents

Despite the fact that rodents are one of the most unpretentious animals, each animal has certain needs and characteristics in the care that must be taken into account.

Climatic conditions

People are used to thinking that room temperature is optimal for all animals, and they feel comfortable in it, but this is not entirely true. Most domestic rodents love warmth. Hamsters and mice will feel great in a room with a temperature of 24 ... 25 degrees. But guinea pigs need stable 20 ... 22 degrees, otherwise they will often hurt.

Rabbits and chinchillas are relatively unpretentious, any temperature in the apartment is suitable for them, but drafts are extremely undesirable for these pets. Chipmunk, being a tropical rodent, loves heat and also does not tolerate a draft.

Housing requirements

Rodents can be divided into land and those who jump on trees. Depending on this, you need to equip your pet home.

  Hamsters, guinea pigs and gerbils do not require special conditions.A small metal cage is suitable for them, however, it is desirable that it has a couple of floors (do not sit the beast in one place). It is also necessary to buy a wooden house (or make it out of cardboard) and a wheel in which the fluffy can stretch.
  Rabbits can live in small enclosures, but they definitely need to be given time when they can walk around the room. Locked up, this animal will quickly wither away.

Chinchillas and squirrels are skilled jumpers. They need high cells with wooden shelves (whatnots) at different heights, on which they can jump back and forth. Chipmunk also fit a high cage, with a house and a wheel.

Important! Since all these animals are called rodents for good reason, it is important that the walls of the dwelling are not made of painted or chemically treated material, since the animal can simply poison and die.

Food

Most rodents can easily do with food that is sold in a pet store, because it is balanced and contains all the necessary trace elements for health and life. However, kids need to be pampered with something. For example, raw carrots and dry apples will not harm the pet, but cabbage should be discarded. Dried fruits are suitable for both large rodents and small ones (except for raisins).

Also, various nuts (peanuts, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews) will be an excellent delicacy (especially for squirrels and chipmunks). The main thing is that nuts should be raw, not fried at all. Chocolate is not recommended for all rodents, especially those who hide food in their sinuses.

Rodent in the house: is it worth it to have a pet

If a child asks for a pet, and a cat or dog is too troublesome a friend, a rodent will be a great alternative.

Benefits

Among the positive aspects of the content of rodents at home can be noted:

1. The main advantage of rodents is their hypoallergenicity, because most of them do not cause allergies at all. For example, chinchilla is one of the few animals that molts, but wool does not cause allergic reactions even in the most severe allergies.
2. The rodent takes up little space and does not require round-the-clock care.
3. All animals choose their place "under the toilet" and do not shit anywhere.
4. Pets will quickly become tame if you give them maximum free time for the first few days.
5. Watching the play of these adorable babies is a pleasure.

Did you know? The world's largest rodent is a capybara. Its weight can reach 91 kilograms.

disadvantages

Unpleasant moments are also available:

1. The main disadvantage of a rodent is its natural reflex to nibble everything. When releasing a pet, you need to make sure that wires and other important objects are not accessible to him.
2. Not all cell dwellers can boast of high intelligence.
3. These mammals have a very short life.

   So, having studied the lifestyle and character of all domestic gnawing mammals, we can conclude that these animals are a great alternative for those who want to make a friend and are not able to constantly go for a walk or clean the tray. A home rodent is the key to a good mood, and even a child can take care of it.

Do you want to have a pet, but you think that there will be a lot of trouble with a cat or dog? Domestic rodents are an ideal solution to this problem. They don’t need daily walking, they don’t drop flowers from window sills, they don’t bite their shoes, wallpaper and sofas with claws do not spoil. Domestic rodents do not need special care. All that is needed is cleaning the cage once or twice a week, proper nutrition and equipping the cage with various toys to entertain the pet. And which rodent is best to choose - a funny hamster, a good-natured guinea pig, a smart rat, an energetic chinchilla or a cute mouse? Each animal is good in its own way, so let's figure out who suits you best.

Many have pets for their children, trying to instill in their child kindness, a sense of responsibility and compassion. Before you get a pet, you need to consider the age of the child.

Under three years old, a child should not buy an animal in any case.

At this age, the child is not yet aware of his actions in relation to the living creature, therefore, it can cause harm to the pet, pick up some infection or drag it into the pet’s mouth or food.

  At the age of 3-4 years, the child actively learns the world and can excessively take care of the pet by feeding it with forbidden products, bathing in the water or taking care in some other way that the animal can get sick or even die from. To avoid this, adults need to be more careful and explain to the child what can and cannot be done.

You can only get an animal for a child after the child realizes that the pet is a living creature, not a toy that can be hurt. All children develop differently, but from about five years old you can already think about acquiring a domestic rodent.

So who to choose?

Hamster

Hamsters are very popular domestic rodents. But it is worth bearing in mind that this small and cute animal is a nocturnal animal and, moreover, quite aggressive. During the day, the hamster will sleep sweetly and will not want to play with you. And if you decide to add a relative to him, then a stormy showdown, until the death of one of the animals, will be provided.

The hamster will need a solid wire, equipped with a house, a wheel, tunnels of your choice. If you want to let your pet run around the apartment, then use a walking ball, otherwise the hamster can climb into an inaccessible place, bite the wiring or other things.

In food, this domestic rodent is not very whimsical. The main thing is to adhere to some rules. How to feed a hamster can find out.

The hamster eats little, takes up little space, and requires minimal attention to itself. This domestic rodent will feel wonderful alone in its cage. The main thing is do not forget to feed him and change the water on time. The only drawback of these animals is their short life expectancy, on average 2-3 years.

The most common representatives of hamsters are the dzhungarik and the Syrian hamster, read how these species differ.

The guinea pig

Guinea pigs are very good-natured and calm pets. Easy to train, can respond to a nickname. You can contain both one individual and several animals.

Caring for them is very simple - you need to clean the cage a couple of times a week, several times a week comb the hair to representatives of long-haired breeds, cut their nails and teeth if necessary. With good care, these animals can live up to 10 years.

Guinea pigs are vegetarians and animal products are contraindicated. But the presence of hay in the pet's cage is required. What else can you feed these domestic rodents read.

Guinea pigs will need a larger cage than hamsters, as these pets are much larger. Pigs can be freely allowed to walk around the apartment without fear that they will be lost. These pets need increased attention relative to hamsters. Pigs rarely bite and coexist remarkably in a cage with another member of their species.

The main differences between a hamster and a guinea pig are described in.

Rat

Recently, a rat has become a popular domestic rodent. For many, this animal is disgusted due to the habitat of their wild relatives and also a biased attitude towards them. But domestic rats are safe for humans.

They are very sociable, easily tamed, understand their nickname, can learn some commands, practically do not bite. At home, these animals can live 2-3 years. They do not require special nutrition - they are omnivores. And you will have to clean it in the cell more often to get rid of the unpleasant odor. These pets can be kept in pairs. More information about rats can be found in. Rats need to be physically active, so they need to be allowed to walk outside the cage. But they require much more attention than other domestic rodents.

About how the hamster differs from the domestic rat in more detail.

Mouse

But the mouse can not often be found as a pet. Although they are worthy of attention. After all, representatives of this class of rodents are unpretentious in content, quickly adapt and practically do not bite. In addition, these animals are very funny and playful.

These tiny animals lead a mostly nocturnal lifestyle. With good care they can live about two years. Mice are herd animals, so if you have only one individual, then take care of entertainment for the pet - balls, cubes or other toys.

Mice are omnivorous, but do not overfeed them with sweets, fatty and spicy foods - this can lead to diseases.

These rodents have one drawback - a specific smell that does not disappear even with very good care. In addition, they reproduce very quickly.

Gerbils are tiny unpretentious, easily tamed domestic rodents with a long fluffy tail. At home, usually kept in pairs, as these are social animals that love communication. Gerbils need a spacious cage or an aquarium, as this is a very mobile animal, or put a running wheel in a cage.

A thick layer of litter should be poured into the cage so that the animal has the opportunity to dig into it. These rodents need sand baths, so place a container with special sand in the cage that needs to be changed periodically.

Life span of gerbils is 3-4 years. The food is the same as that of y.

Chinchilla

Chinchillas are very active and beautiful rodents with a long mustache, a fluffy tail and a thick fur coat. These animals are very neat and neat - they practically do not smell. The peak of their activity occurs in the dark, as these are nocturnal animals. For chinchillas, you need a spacious cage with various shelves, climbing devices and toys.

In the cage you need to put a container with sand, the animal loves to take sand baths. The fur of the chinchillas is very dense and it does not start fleas and ticks. This animal does not fade, so people with allergies can have such a pet. Chinchillas do not bite or scratch, although they have sharp teeth.

These rodents eat little, at home they are fed once a day with dried foods - dried apples, carrots, hay, dandelion roots, as well as granulate as the main feed.

One of the advantages of chinchilla over other domestic rodents is their lifespan. With proper care, these animals can survive an average of 15-20 years.

Daegu

Daegu - rare domestic rodents, very active, cute, well-tamed animals. This rodent, like the chinchilla, needs a spacious cage with a house, a drinking bowl, a wheel and other toys for active games. Degu should always have specialized food from herbs, cereals and vegetables, as well as hay and branches for grinding teeth. But sweet fruits and dried fruits to these rodents are contraindicated because of their predisposition to diabetes.

Daegu is very sociable and well used to the hands of the owner and can recognize it by smell. This pet is a social animal, so it requires constant communication with either other degus or the owner. Therefore, if you do not have enough time for a pet, buy him a pair.

Other rodents

It is very rare to find a squirrel, dormouse, chipmunk, ground squirrel or jerboa as a domestic rodent. For such rodents, it is necessary to observe certain conditions of detention and nutrition, based on their living conditions in the natural environment.

Do not think that domestic rodents do not deserve the same attention as cats or dogs. If you have a small animal, then it has already become a member of your family, which has the right to attention, care and love. What kind of rodent to get in your home you must decide for yourself, picking up the animal to your temperament. Whoever you choose, any pet is able to make you be touched and rejoice, and will reciprocate your affection and love.

Rodent Squad

The detachment unites different types of squirrels, beavers, mice, voles, rats and many others. They are distinguished by a number of features. One of them is a peculiar structure of teeth adapted to be fed with solid plant foods (tree branches and shrubs, seeds, herbaceous plants). All rodents, unlike the hare-like ones, have one pair of incisors in the upper jaw. They are devoid of roots and grow continuously throughout the life of the animal. In addition, they unevenly grind, have the appearance of a chisel, since their front side is covered with harder and denser enamel than the back. The molars have a wide surface and are adapted to grinding of plant foods.

Most rodents are highly fertile: during the year several times bring numerous offspring.

Rodents are widespread on our planet and very diverse; There are about 2 thousand species of these animals.

Common squirrel

Common squirrel  - a small animal with a slightly elongated body and a long fluffy tail. She lives mainly in old coniferous and mixed forests, on trees, can climb the trunk, deftly jump from branch to branch, from one tree to another. Movement through the trees is facilitated by such structural features as strong hind legs, sharp claws on the fingers, a long fluffy tail, which acts as a parachute when jumping. In summer, the red squirrel, and in winter - light gray, the color change has a protective value. Summer coloring makes it inconspicuous on the trunks of conifers, and winter hides the animal in the background of snow.

Squirrel lives in hollows or arranges on trees, at a height of 2 to 6 m, spherical nests from twigs, moss with a side entrance. Squirrels (from 3 to 10) are born in them in the summer, which become independent in two months.

In summer, the squirrel eats coniferous seeds, mushrooms, insects, and can attack small birds and their chicks. For the winter, the squirrel collects large reserves of food, as it does not hibernate. In severe frosts, she climbs into a hollow or nest and sleeps there all day, curled up in a ball.

Squirrel is of great commercial importance, winter Siberian squirrel fur is especially appreciated.

Beaver - one of the largest rodents (body length reaches 80 cm). It is adapted to life not only in terrestrial, but also in the aquatic environment. On land, it seems awkward, but moves perfectly in water thanks to its streamlined body shape. When immersed in water, the beaver closes the auditory holes and nostrils, the lips close behind the incisors. The tail is wide and flat, covered with scales, acts as a rudder when moving in water. Hind limbs also help swimming, the fingers of which are connected by a swimming membrane. Fur with a dense undercoat that does not allow water to pass through.

Beavers live along the banks of rivers and lakes with thickets of aspen, willow, and birch. They dig burrows on steep shores with access to underwater, and on low marshy shores they build huts of thick branches, twigs and earth, which are well cemented with silt, durable and also have access to under water. To maintain the water level in the river, dams are made of sticks and branches fastened with silt and earth. In summer, beavers eat juicy parts of aquatic plants, in autumn and winter they eat young bark and shoots of various deciduous trees. Beavers breed once in the warm season. Cubs are born sighted, covered with thick dark brown hair, swim well, but cannot dive. The beaver has many enemies, wolves, wolverines, lynxes and foxes are especially dangerous for him.

Once a beaver was a valuable commercial animal, its beautiful fur has long been valued. At present, hunting for beaver is banned everywhere.

Forest mouse

The rodent also includes the gray rat, mice, field voles, etc. In the European part of our country, in Central Asia and Western Siberia, a small animal lives - forest mouse.  In appearance, it is similar to a field mouse, but somewhat larger, it has a different color: the back is red, the belly is white, there is a yellow spot on the chest between the front legs.

Forest mouse lives in mixed and deciduous forests, in places with well-developed undergrowth and an abundance of deadwood. Active at night, in the afternoon is in a hole under the roots of trees or in hollows.

It feeds mainly on the seeds of deciduous trees, hazelnuts, berries and even insects, eats seedlings of trees. Forest mice are considered pests of forestry, as they destroy a large number of tree seeds, preventing their renewal.

Red vole

In the forest and forest-steppe zones of our country lives red vole.

It is also small, but unlike the mouse it has a less blunted muzzle, a short tail covered with short sparse hair.

The color of the fur is dominated by red tones.

In winter, the vole lives in haystacks or in buildings, in the summer - under the roots of twisted stumps, hollows, piles of brushwood. Here she arranges nests with branched passages. Vole feeds mainly on green parts of plants, seeds, berries, mushrooms. Many predatory animals and birds feed on it. During the years of mass reproduction, the vole destroys a huge amount of forest tree seeds, as well as stocks of vegetables in warehouses. Therefore, it is considered a pest of forestry and agriculture.

Gray rat

The largest representative of mouse rodents is gray rat.  It is widespread in our country and lives in a wide variety of conditions, in residential and household buildings, in basements, in barn yards. In the summer it is often found in gardens, vacant lots and fields. The rat is very agile, agile and fearless. However, she is very careful and skillfully avoids various obstacles.

Gray rats are omnivorous rodents, as they feed on small animals, such as voles, small birds, eat human food reserves, carrion, grain, etc. They are pests of agriculture and carriers of many diseases.

Jerboas

In the steppes, semi-deserts and deserts live very peculiar rodents - jerboas.  They have short front and very long hind legs, a tail with a flat hair brush at the end. Jerboas move in jumps, while the tail serves both as a rudder and as a support (see. Fig. Textbook, p. 231).

Jerboas lead a nocturnal lifestyle, live in burrows, and hibernate for the winter. They feed on seeds, leaves, stalks of cereals, tubers and bulbs of wild plants. In turn, they are the prey of desert predatory animals, birds, reptiles.

Porcupine

Porcupine  - the largest rodent, body length from 60 to 90 cm, and weight about 27 kg. He has small eyes and ears. The front of the body is covered with bristles, and the back with needles. The tail is covered with short needles (see. Fig. Textbook, p. 231).

Porcupine is distributed in the south of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, lives in the desert foothills and hilly places. Spends the day in a hole or in a cave, and at night leads an active lifestyle. It feeds on plants: green parts, roots, bulbs and tubers, fruits and seeds of trees and shrubs. In some places, it damages agriculture by eating potatoes, corn and melons.

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Batwing squad This division includes bats and winged birds. The only group of mammals capable of prolonged active flight. The forelimbs are turned into wings. They are formed by a thin, elastic, leathery flying membrane, which is stretched between

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Order Rabbit-shaped These are small and medium-sized mammals. They have two pairs of incisors in the upper jaw, located one after the other so that behind the large anterior there is a second pair of small and short ones. In the lower jaw there is only one pair of incisors. No fangs and incisors

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7.2. Squad primates A person belongs to the squad primates (Primates). To understand the systematic position of a person in it, it is necessary to represent the phylogenetic relationships of various groups of this

There are more than 2 thousand species of rodents, which is about 1/3 of all species of mammals. Rodents are widespread and play an important role in the food chains of ecosystems. These include mice, rats, field voles, squirrels, chipmunks, ground squirrels, beavers, muskrats, porcupines, etc. These are mainly small herbivorous animals. The largest representative of rodents is capybara (about a meter), and the smallest - mice and mice (several centimeters).

Mouse and capybara - one of the smallest and largest of the representatives of rodents

A distinctive feature that ranks the animal in this unit is the special structure of the dental system. All rodents have pairs of highly developed upper and lower incisors, on the sides of which there are diastems (empty spaces), followed by flat molars. There are no fangs.

The incisors have no roots and grow all their lives, gradually grinding off when they bite off food. The incisors always remain sharp, since their front side is covered with solid enamel, and the back side is not (there is only dentin) and grinds more.

Due to the fact that rodents are predominantly herbivorous, their cecum and long intestines are highly developed. In the cecum, indigestible food is processed by fermentation.

Another feature of rodents is their high fecundity. It is achieved both by a large number of cubs in the litter, and a high frequency of birth (in mice up to 7 times a year and up to 10 cubs in the litter). The offspring appears blind and naked, so rodents make nests.

Among rodents, both burrowing and jumping animals are found. Therefore, the limbs of different types of squad may differ. Although more often the hind legs are longer than the front. The presence of the tail, its length also vary. So in jerboas, it is longer than the body, while in guinea pigs it is completely absent.

In addition to plant foods, some members of the order eat arthropods and even other vertebrates, bird eggs.

The first representatives of the Rodent detachment appeared in the Cretaceous era. And they became known to science from the beginning of the Paleocene. Paleontologists believe that the ancestors of rodents were insectivores.

Rodent Squad: general description

Among the animals of this detachment there are representatives of completely different weight categories. The body length of the mouse is 5 cm. The capybara can reach 130 cm in length, and its body weight varies from 6 to 60 kg. Due to the wide variety of species, the external structure of the body of rodents may vary. For example, limbs can have a different look. Rodents have 5- or 4-fingered forelimbs and 3-, 4-, 5-fingered hind limbs. The hairline is very diverse - from thick and soft to thinned, bristle-like or even forming a needle. Coloring is also varied. There are no sweat glands on the body, only the presence of sebaceous glands is characteristic. The location of the sweat glands are the soles. The number of nipples varies from 2 to 12 pairs.

According to the type of food, representatives of numerous families also differ. It is possible to distinguish herbivorous, omnivorous, insectivorous and fish-eating rodents.

Structural features

Characteristic features are smooth cerebral hemispheres; imperfection of thermoregulation; the presence of two pairs of greatly enlarged middle incisors, which grow throughout life and have no roots. The shape of these teeth is similar to a chisel and very sharp, the incisors on the inside are covered with soft dentin, while the front part is covered with hard enamel. This structural feature allows the incisors to self-sharpen when necessary. Rodent fangs are absent, and between the incisors and molars there is a diastema (empty space). In total, the number of teeth in various species varies from 12 to 20.

Depending on the lifestyle and type of nutrition, molars can vary in the structure of the tooth surface. It can be tuberous or comb. Lips perform a protective function, protecting the mouth from various kinds of unnecessary particles. The structure located behind the cheeks and covering the jaw allows you to protrude the front jaw if necessary. It is the differences in the configuration of these muscles that served as a sign by which rodents are classified. The stomach can be simple or multi-chamber. For all but Sonya, the presence of the cecum is characteristic, but there is no spiral fold in it.

Rodent Squad Classification

Rodent squad is not finally classified. Until recently, the rabbit-like, singled out today in a separate detachment, also belonged to it.

Today, more than 40 families are known, 30 of which include modern representatives of this detachment. Species diversity is very widespread, in the order of the Rodent, according to various sources, there are from 1600 to 2000 species.

The ubiquity of various species of rodents suggests the numerical dominance of their representatives among mammals. 150 species from 11 modern families, including the Flying, Squirrel, Beaver, Hamster, Slepyshev, Mouse, Sonev, Tushkanchikovye and others, populate open landscapes of the temperate and subtropical zones, especially arid zones. For many species, a semi-underground lifestyle is characteristic, when only nutrition is carried out on the surface.

Wild and domestic rodents, leading night and day lifestyles, small and large - a great many of their representatives are spread around the world.

The value of rodents

It is known that rodents are actively involved in soil formation. Their burrowing activity has a positive effect on plant productivity.

Life expectancy depends on size: small animal rodents live from 1.5 to 2 years, and large animals from 4 to 7 years. The onset of puberty in small species occurs in 2-3 months, and in large - in 1-1.5 years. The number of rodents of the smallest size, which are able to give birth to 6-8 times 8-15 cubs per year, can increase hundreds of times in some of the years. Then rodents do tremendous damage to agriculture. Among the animals of the squad there are dangerous ones, those that are carriers and causative agents of serious diseases. This, for example, gophers and groundhogs. Squirrels, muskrats and nutria have valuable fur; in this regard, they have become an important object of fur trade. Two species and 5 subspecies of rodents are listed in the Red Book.

Typical representatives of the squad

The families that make up the Rodent detachment, the list of which is presented below, include the most diverse animals in appearance and lifestyle.

• Sem. Squirrel: common squirrel, gopher, chipmunk, Mexican marmot.
• Sem. Flying squirrel: flying squirrel.
• Sem. Gopher: flat gopher.
• Sem. Beavers: beaver.
• Sem. Long-legged: long-legged.
• Sem. Hamsters: Dzungarian hamster, common zokor, vole, hoofed lemmings, Siberian lemmings, large gerbils.
• Sem. Flemish:
• Sem. pasyuk.
• Sem. Sonia: garden dormouse.
• Sem. Selevinium: Selevinia.
• Sem. Mousetraps: forest mouse.
• Sem. Jerboa: fat-tailed jerboa, large jerboa.
• Sem. Porcupines: Indian porcupine.
• Sem. American porcupines: tenacious porcupine.
• Sem. Mumps: Guinea pig, Patagonian mara.
• Sem. Capybara: capybara.
• Sem. Chinchilla: Chinchilla, Wiskasha.
• Sem. Nutria: Nutria.

The evolutionary path of rodents

The fossilized remains of ancient rodents, most of which were found in North America and Eurasia, were very small and resembled modern mice. Only a few species were slightly more developed compared to most and reached the size of a beaver.

The first sign that appeared to distinguish rodents from other similar animals was the structure of the jaws, or rather, the appearance of characteristic incisors. These animals were rather unpretentious and gradually adapted to different living conditions, while the structural features, depending on their lifestyle, began to stand out more and more clearly.

The ancient small rodents ran in jogging, and then such species appeared that learned to jump. At the same time, a group of underground rodents was isolated, the structure of the skull, paws and claws of which began to have characteristic features.

One of the most common rodents today - mice and rats - appeared much later. Representatives of the ancient species of these animals were found in the European layers of the Pliocene.

The resettlement of the representatives of the detachment is mainly connected with humans, because the rodents were “stowaways” on ships on sea voyages, and later traveled with camel caravans in the desert and trains by rail. They live next to man to this day. They feel very comfortable in houses and on livestock farms, in grain warehouses and in pantries with food.

Rodents: names of the genera of the main pests

Rats are representatives of the genus rattus, numbering 63 species. These animals are spread around the globe. But 2 species of rats cause especially serious damage to humanity, damaging crops, destroying food and being carriers of diseases. It's about black and which is often called the pasuk. Both that and others - bright representatives of parasites of the person. From the point of view of lifestyle, it is possible to identify some differences between representatives of these species. Black is a more “capricious" rat. The rodent loves warmth and lives, as a rule, in human habitation, while the pasuk feels quite comfortable outside the habitation, furrowing the expanses of villages and villages. The black rat is ubiquitous when traveling by ship. In Britain, it was these rodents that became carriers of the plague, which claimed millions of human lives. China is considered the homeland of the pasuk, from which in the first half of the XVIII century. the rodent came to Europe, pushing the black rat. Both that and another look - rodents are very dangerous. They can be carriers of plague, typhoid, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis.

Mice are relatively small rodents. Species with this name are found in several families at once. The most typical representatives of the temperate climatic zone are baby mouse and forest mouse; African continent - grass mouse and striped Australia - Asian wood mouse and prickly rice hamster. But the most famous is the house mouse, despite its small size, which poses a serious threat to human health. Other mice affect the economic situation of countries, damaging crops and food supplies. This problem is especially acute in the tropics. Almost all mice are omnivorous, but give preference to plant foods and only occasionally eat insects. Mice include one of the smallest mammals. A vivid example is a dwarf hamster, whose weight is not more than 10 g.

Voles are close relatives of hamsters, rats and mice. Voles and lemmings are part of the characteristic subfamily, whose representatives inhabit the cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere. In the external structure there are characteristic signs: a short tail and a rounded nose. The largest animal of 99 species of this genus is the American musk rat, which is also called the muskrat. These mammalian rodents adapted to life in water, acquiring special morphological characters in the process of evolution. Being mostly herbivorous, voles become a threat to agriculture and the food industry. These rodents feed on many mammals and birds of prey, which indicates their environmental importance.

• Rodents have spread so widely on the planet that they have invaded all continents except Antarctica.
• The largest rodent lived in South America 4 million years ago. The weight of individuals could reach 1 ton. To date, the largest representative of the detachment is capybara.
• One Malay porcupine ended up in the Guinness Book of Records, having lived 27 years and 4 months.
• Japanese geneticists have deduced the species of the rodent mutant. A distinctive feature of the laboratory mutant is that it is able to tweet like a sparrow.
• The image of the chipmunk is on the arms of two cities of the Sverdlovsk region - Volchansk and Krasnoturinsk.
• In the Chinese calendar there is in the Zoroastrian - the year of the Beaver and the year of the Squirrel.
• The most popular rodents are the cartoon rescue team from Walt Disney's work: chipmunks Chip and Dale, Rocky rat and mouse Gadget. Rodents with funny voices from the comedy film Alvin and the Chipmunks are also widely known.
• Professor Jenny Morton of the University of Cambridge has conducted studies on the effects of methamphetamine on mammals. The experiments were carried out on mice. It was accidentally found that loud music enhanced the toxic properties of the drug. Of the group of 40 individuals who listened to Bach, only 4 died during or immediately after the experiment. But of the 40 mice that listened to The Prodigy's music, 7 immediately died on the spot. The point, of course, is not at all that the individuals aesthetically distinguish what they listen to, but in the action of a rhythmic pulsating noise, which provoked an increase in the toxic effect.
• Smart rats are alcoholics. This feature really distinguishes this view. Rodents, which more successfully overcome the labyrinth, cannot resist the "glass". Such an unusual conclusion was made by professors at Concordia University of Montreal. Those individuals who were well oriented in the maze quickly realized the connection between alcohol and the feeling of euphoria that it causes. This is indicated by the fact that they, smelling the alcohol, began to lap it. But less savvy rats did not catch this connection and did not even come near the glass, frightened by the unpleasant smell of alcohol.
• Using a virus originating from HIV, scientists from the California Institute of Technology conducted interesting experiments, transferring to animals some genes with certain properties from other creatures. In particular, such an impressive experiment was carried out: a jellyfish gene was introduced into the unicellular mouse embryo, which determines its glow. Surprisingly, mice with a foreign gene were born with luminous organs with green fluorescent light. The glow turned into a stable property of these mice, and further offspring also had this trait.

Domestic rodents

Kids often dream of a pet. But only a few have the patience, strength and time to care. The most unpretentious in this regard can be called domestic rodents. Care for these funny animals is minimal. Special conditions are not required for maintenance, and their cost is quite affordable.

As the first pet for a small child, you need to choose just rodents. After all, the baby can feed a funny animal himself, and take part in cleaning the cage.

Pet stores offer a wide variety of pets such as rodents. A list of the most common is given below.

A huge number of hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs, gerbils, chinchillas, decorative rabbits, chipmunks, ferrets and even squirrels are sold in stores. The most “comfortable” are, of course, hamsters, which are distinguished by a calm and flexible character. In addition, they are very easy to tame. Squirrels, chinchillas, rabbits and ferrets need more space, and caring for them is more difficult.

Rats in New York

Despite the fact that mammals are the most evolutionarily developed class, rodents (like rats) are a by-product of civilization. They developed with us, and the larger the settlement of a person, the more beautiful rodents among people feel. Perhaps that is why New York was chosen as the rat’s world capital.

According to rough estimates, in this city the number of rats is eight times higher than the number of people. No matter how the city authorities came up with rodents, these mammalian rodents still found a way to survive.

Unwanted neighbors are becoming larger, stronger, and more prolific over the years. It is also amusing that urban rats are much more cunning than rural ones. They learned to understand many things. For example, if one of the individuals died by swallowing the bait, its relatives would never eat it. They studied underground communications and are able to move around the city on certain routes.

Rats live next door to humans for many centuries, breeding at lightning speed. A rat at the age of 8 weeks is still asexual. And a year later, she is able to produce 50 offspring each year. They, like circus performers, can stick through a narrow hole, climb perfectly on a vertical surface and swim. They have excellent sense of smell and touch, are capable of jumping several meters long and are resettled by social formations.

It has recently been found that many cats have stopped attacking rats. Now they peacefully coexist with them, eating together and coexisting side by side. The reason for this is the equation of forces, which in the process of evolution in rats significantly increased.

Even the New Yorkers themselves stopped paying attention to rats, they now complement the urban look. Rodents stopped hiding, they imposingly walk around the edges of sidewalks, generously leaving their central part to people.

Yes, rat bites no longer carry mortal danger, but still harm health. Children very often become victims of their bites. Every year, more than a hundred people bitten by rats come to New York clinics.

The characterization of rodents only as pests is still not entirely correct. Indeed, among them there are malicious pests deserving extermination by all possible means. But there are also species without which a catastrophic violation of the balance of vital functions of many ecological systems would occur. And many mouse-like rodents play the role of experimental animals in laboratories.

Thus, rodents, the names of which are so diverse, and the numbers are so great, differ greatly in value, bringing both catastrophic harm and tremendous benefits to the life of a person and the planet.