order rodentia gnawing mammals
DESCRIPTION
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 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Order RodentiaGnawing 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 SquirrelTamiasciurus 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 SquirrelSciurus 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 SquirrelSciurus niger
• Likes to live in a more open habitat then the gray and red squirrels
• Called “fox” squirrel cause of reddish color
Northern Flying SquirrelGlaucomys sabrinus
• Likes coniferous forests• Eats-fungi, seeds,
insects, berries
Southern Flying SquirrelGlaucomys volans
• Likes deciduous forests• Doesn’t fly, but glides • More common then
the Northern Flying Squirrel
Eastern ChipmunkTamias 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
WoodchuckMarmota monax
• Also called groundhog
• Herbivores- primarily grazers– Can eat up to 0.67kg
of food• Hibernators
– Hibernate October thru April
CastoridaeBeavers
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
MuskratOndatra 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 & MiceNorway Rat
Rattus norvegicusHouse MouseMus musculus
Zapodidae: Jumping MiceMeadow Jumping Mouse
Zapus hudsonicusWoodland Jumping Mouse
Napeozapus insignis
Erethizontidae: PorcupinesPorcupine
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