Ch. 16 - Rodentia and Lagomorpha Flashcards
This is the largest mammal order
Order Rodentia
About how many species are in Order Rodentia?
2000
What percent of all mammals are rodents?
46%
What are two places on Earth that lack rodents?
Antarctica and New Zealand
What shapes rodent incisors into chisels?
An enamel anterior and more posterior wear
Are rodent incisors open-rooted?
Yes
Are rodent incisors ever-growing?
Yes
Rodents usually have fewer than this many teeth
22
Do rodents have canines?
No
This rodent family contains squirrels
Sciuridae
About how many species are in Family Sciuridae?
300
These squirrels are nocturnal and posses a patagium
Flying squirrels
What are two species of tree squirrels found in the eastern U.S.?
Grey and red tree squirrels
These squirrels are found in the western U.S.
Rock squirrels
What are four examples of ground squirrels?
Prairie dogs, marmots, chipmunks, woodchucks
This rodent family contains beavers
Castoridae
These are the largest North America rodents
Beavers
How many beaver species are in North America?
2
Are beavers nocturnal or diurnal?
Nocturnal
Are beavers polygamous or monogamous?
Monogamous
These are beavers’ only natural predator control
Wolves
Beavers have these to aid in eating tree cambium
Symbiotic bacteria in caecum
This rodent family contains the kangaroo rats and silky pocket mice
Heteromyidae
Are Heteromyidae a New World or Old World family?
New World
What type of environment do heteromyids prefer?
Arid/semi arid
What feeding strategy do heteromyids use?
Granivory
What are two ways heteromyids conserve water?
Highly concentrated urine and dietary water
This family contains pocket gophers
Geomyidae
Are Geomyidae a New World or Old World family?
New World
How many species of Geomyidae are there?
35
Are geomyids entirely fossorial?
Yes
What are three food sources of geomyids?
Roots, plants, prickly pear
This feature keeps geomyids from getting dirt in their mouths as they dig
Lips close behind exposed incisors
This geomyid feature is naked and highly sensitive
Tail
Both heteromyids and geomyids have this feature to store seeds
External, fur-lined cheek pouches
This rodent family includes chinchillas, guinea pigs and capybaras
Hystricidae
Where are most hystricids found?
South America
What is an example of a North American hystricid?
Porcupine
What do porcupines eat?
Cambium layer of trees
What trees do porcupines prefer to feed on in the western U.S.?
Conifers
What trees do porcupines prefer to feed on in the eastern U.S.?
Hardwoods (maple, beech)
Do porcupines live in groups?
No
Do porcupines have a long gestation?
Yes
How many offspring do porcupines have at a time?
1
What are three characteristics of precocial porcupine young?
Open eyes, teeth, quills
What are two potential porcupine predators?
Fishers, ravens
On what three continents are porcupines found?
North America, South America, Europe
This family includes New World mice and Old World rats
Family Muridae
How many species are in Family Muridae?
> 1300
What percent of all mammals are in Family Muridae?
28%
How many teeth do murids typically have?
<16
What are three examples of New World mice?
Voles, lemmings, muskrats
What are three examples of Old World murids?
Rats, hamsters, gerbils
How many Peromyscus species are in Oklahoma?
8
How many woodrat (Neotoma) species are in Oklahoma?
4
What are two Old World rats in Oklahoma?
Norway rat and house mouse
What are five characteristics of Muridae reproduction?
Early sexual maturity; Large litter sizes; Polygynandrous; Postpartum estrous; Delayed implantation
Muridae population sizes experience these
Frequent, sometimes cyclic oscillations
What are five potential causes of cyclic Muridae population oscillations?
Sunspots, predation, senescence, immunocompetance, social aggression
This order contains rabbits, hares, and pikas
Order Lagomorpha
What distinctive teeth do lagomorphs have?
Peg teeth behind their incisors
These lagomorphs have altricial young
Rabbits
These lagomorphs have precocial young
Hares
What is a non-visible difference between rabbits and hares?
Chromosomal differences (2N)
How many rabbit species are in Oklahoma?
4