Order Rodentia Gnawing 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 Squirrel Tamiasciurus 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 Squirrel Sciurus 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 Squirrel Sciurus niger Likes to live in a more open habitat then the gray and red squirrels Called “fox” squirrel cause of reddish color

Northern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus Likes coniferous forests Eats-fungi, seeds, insects, berries

Southern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys volans Likes deciduous forests Doesn’t fly, but glides More common then the Northern Flying Squirrel

Eastern Chipmunk Tamias 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

Woodchuck Marmota monax Also called groundhog Herbivores- primarily grazers – Can eat up to 0.67kg of food Hibernators – Hibernate October thru April

Castoridae Beavers 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

Muskrat Ondatra 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 & Mice Norway Rat Rattus norvegicus House Mouse Mus musculus

Zapodidae: Jumping Mice Meadow Jumping Mouse Zapus hudsonicus Woodland Jumping Mouse Napeozapus insignis

Erethizontidae: Porcupines Porcupine 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