The spiny rats are a group of hystricognath rodents in the family Echimyidae. They are distributed from central Central America through much of South America. They were also found in the West Indies until the 1800s. Some authorities consider the nutria from southern and central South America to be a part of this family. Families See Classification Section The order Rodentia is the most numerous of all the branches on the mammal family tree. ... Central America is the region of North America located between the southern border of Mexico and the northwest border of Colombia, in South America. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... Binomial name Myocastor coypus (Molina, 1782) The Coypu (Myocastor coypus) or Nutria is a large, crepuscular, semiaquatic rodent native to South America, but now also present in Europe, Asia, and North America. ...

Characteristics

Overall, most spiny rats resemble spined rats although they are more closely related to guinea pigs and chinchillas. Most species have stiff pointed hairs that allow for protection. Spine is a word with several meanings. ... Species 50 species; see text *Several subfamilies of Muroids include animals called rats. ... Species Cavia porcellus Cavia aperea Cavia tschudii Cavia guianae Cavia anolaimae Cavia nana Cavia fulgida Cavia magna Guinea pigs (also called cavies) are rodents belonging to the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia. ... Jump to: navigation, search Genera  Chinchilla  Lagidium  Lagostomus Chinchillas and their relatives viscachas are small, nocturnal mammals native to the Andes mountains in South America and belonging to the family Chinchillidae. ...

Many echimyids can break off their tails when attacked. This action confuses predators long enough for the animal to escape. Unlike lizards, however, the tail of spiny rats does not regenerate. This technique can obviously be used only once in each individual's lifetime. The word tail in the English language has a number of meanings: Tail (anatomy) is used to describe the rear end of an animals body, especially when it forms a distinct, flexible appendage to the trunk; Tail can describe anything like an animals tail in form or position... This snapping turtle is trying to make a meal of a Canada goose, but the goose is too wary. ... Families Many, see text. ... In biology, regeneration is the ability to recreate lost or damaged tissues, organs and limbs. ...

Most spiny rats are rare and poorly known, but a few are extremely abundant. Terrestrial, arboreal, and fossorial members of this family exist. Most species do not do well in conditions of high heat and aridity and are restricted to regions with an abundant source of water. They are almost exclusively herbivorous. Terrestrial literally means of the earth and is used in a variety of contexts: In biology and in the general sense, terrestrial means indicates ground-dwelling (compare aquatic). ... This article is about the biological organisms known as trees. ... A dune in the Egyptian desert In geography, a desert is a landscape form or region that receives little precipitation. ... A deer and two fawns feeding on some foliage In zoology, an herbivore is an animal that is adapted to eat primarily plant matter (rather than meat). ...

The Thin-spined Porcupine, Chaetomys subspinosus, is often included in the Echimyidae due to similarities in the premolar. The premolar teeth or bicuspids are transitional teeth located between the canine and molar teeth. ...

Genera

• Family Echimyidae - spiny rats
  • †Cercomys
  • †Maruchito
  • †Paulacoutomys
  • †Willidewu
  • Subfamily †Adelphomyinae
    • †Adelphomys
    • †Deseadomys
    • †Paradelphomys
    • †Stichomys
    • †Xylechimys
  • Subfamily Dactylomyinae
    • Dactylomys - coro-coros
    • Kannabateomys - Rato de Taquara
    • Olallamys
  • Subfamily †Heteropsomyinae - extinct West Indian echimyids
    • †Boromys
    • †Brotomys
    • †Heteropsomys
    • †Puertoricomys
  • Subfamily Eumysopinae
    • †Acarechimys
    • †Chasichimys
    • †Eumysops
    • Lonchothrix
    • Mesomys
    • †Palaeoechimys
    • †Pampamys
    • †Pattersomys
    • †Protacaremys
    • †Protadelphomys
    • †Sallamys
    • Proechimys - spiny rats
    • Thrichomys - Punaré
    • Trinomys
    • Tribe Euryzygomatomyini
      • Carterodon
      • Clyomys
      • Euryzygomatomys - Guiara
  • Subfamily Echimyinae
    • Callistomys
    • Diplomys
    • Echimys - arboreal spiny rats
    • Isothrix - toros
    • Makalata
    • Pattonomys
    • Phyllomys
    • Santamartamys

References

• Emmons, L.H. 2005. A Revision of the Genera of Arboreal Echimyidae (Rodentia: Echimyidae, Echimyinae), With Descriptions of Two New Genera. Pp. 247-310 in Lacey, E.A. & Myers, P. 2005. Mammalian Diversification: From Chromosomes to Phylogeography (A Celebration of the Career of James L. Patton). University of California Publications in Zoology.
• Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, London.