1. Order Rodentia Family Muridae Diastema 1 pair incisors Ears shorter than tail Eyes, ears visible Tail naked; annulations visible Tail not longer than head and body Dorsal, ventral pelage nearly same color Rattus norvegicus

2. Mus musculus Identification: Mouselike size; gray-brown dorsum and slightly lighter venter; naked tail; few hairs on ears (TL 130-200mm) Distribution: Statewide Habitat: Vicinity of humans; occasionally fields, other disturbed habitats

3. Mus musculus Diet: Omnivorous Reproduction: Multiple litters of 3-10 each year Conservation: Introduced; common

4. Mus musculus Other: Introduced by early immigrants from Eurasia; carries some human diseases (typhus, rickettsialpox)

5. Rattus norvegicus Identification: Ratlike size; brown dorsum and slightly lighter venter; naked tail; little hair on ears; abdomen swollen anterior to tail (TL 315- 460mm) Distribution: Statewide

6. Rattus norvegicus Habitat: Almost exclusively near human habitations; confined to 1 st floor and basement in buildings Diet: Grain, food scraps, chicken eggs, chicks Reproduction: Up to 12 litters of as many as 12 young annually Conservation: Introduced; common

7. Rattus norvegicus Other: Introduced in 1700s; damages food stores; historically significant as vector of bacterium causing bubonic plague http://www.insecta-inspecta.com http://www.columbia.edu

9. Order Rodentia Family Zapodidae Diastema 1 pair incisors Ears shorter than tail Eyes, ears visible Tail furred Tail much longer than head and body Hind feet elongate Zapus hudsonius

10. Identification: Pelage coarse with dark brown dorsal band; yellowish flanks; venter white; bicolored tail Distribution: Statewide Habitat: Moist grassland, weedy habitats

11. Zapus hudsonius Diet: Seeds, fruits, fungus, invertebrates Reproduction: 2 litters of 2-8 annually Conservation: Common Other: Hops only when scared or pursued