NationMaster - Encyclopedia: New World rats and mice

The New World rats and mice are a group of related rodents found in North and South America. They are extremely diverse in appearance and ecology, ranging in from the tiny Baiomys to the large Neotoma. They represent one of the few examples of muroid rodents (along with the voles) in North America, and the only example of muroid rodents to have made it into South America. World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is the third largest continent in area and in population after Eurasia and Africa. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Families see text Muroidea is a large superfamily of rodents. ... Genera see text Arvicolinae is a subfamily of rodents that includes the voles, lemmings, and muskrats. ...

The New World rats and mice are often considered part of a single subfamily, Sigmodontinae, but the recent trend among muroid taxonomists is to recognize three separate subfamilies. This strategy better represents the extreme diversity of species numbers and ecological types.

Some molecular phylogenetic studies have suggested that the New World rats and mice are not a monophyletic group, but this is yet to be confirmed. Their closest relatives are clearly the hamsters and voles. Molecular phylogeny is the use of a genes molecular characteristics to classify an organism and to place it on a map of evolutionary relationships known as the phylogenetic tree. ... In phylogenetics, a group is monophyletic (Greek: of one stem) if all organisms in that group are known to have developed from a common ancestral form, and all descendants of that form are included in the group. ... Genera Cricetus Mesocricetus Cricetulus Phodopus This article is about the animal. ... A vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse but with a stouter body; a shorter, hairy tail; and smaller ears and eyes. ...

The New World rats and mice are divided into 3 subfamilies, 12 tribes, and 84 genera.

Classification

Subfamilies see text Cricetidae is a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. ... Genera Cricetus Mesocricetus Cricetulus Phodopus This article is about the animal. ... A vole is a small rodent resembling a mouse but with a stouter body; a shorter, hairy tail; and smaller ears and eyes. ... The peromyscus, or deer mouse, is a genus of New World mouse only distantly related to the common house mouse, Mus musculus. ... Species Brucepattersonius albinasus Brucepattersonius griserufescens Brucepattersonius guarani Brucepattersonius igniventris Brucepattersonius iheringi Brucepattersonius misionensis Brucepattersonius paradisus Brucepattersonius soricinus The Brucies are a recently described genus of South American rodents, Brucepattersonius. ...

References

Categories: Rodents | Muroid rodents Classification may refer to: Taxonomic classification Statistical classification Hint: Language use may refer to a taxonomic classification that is used for statistical purposes also as a statistical classification (like International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems). ... Orders Subclass Monotremata Monotremata Subclass Marsupialia Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Subclass Placentalia Xenarthra Dermoptera Desmostylia Scandentia Primates Rodentia Lagomorpha Insectivora Chiroptera Pholidota Carnivora Perissodactyla Artiodactyla Cetacea Afrosoricida Macroscelidea Tubulidentata Hyracoidea Proboscidea Sirenia The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals primarily characterized by the presence of mammary... In biology, a species is a kind of organism. ... A phylogeny (or phylogenesis) is the origin and evolution of a set of organisms, usually of a species. ... Families see text Muroidea is a large superfamily of rodents. ... Families Many, see text The order Rodentia is the most numerous of all the branches on the mammal family tree. ... This stylistic schematic diagram shows a gene in relation to the double helix structure of DNA and to a chromosome (right). ...

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References

Classification