Rodents, Ferrets, Rabits Flashcards
What order are all rodents under?
Rodentia
What is the largest mammalian suborder?
Rodentia
What are the three suborders of rodentia?
myomorpha, sciuromorpha, hystricomorpha
What is included in suborder myomorpha?
all rat-like rodents
What 2 families are under suborder myomorpha?
gerbillinae, muridae
What 2 animals are included in family muridae?
rats and mice
What is the scientific name for the domestic rat?
rattus norvegicus domestica
What is the scientific name for the sewer rat?
rattus norvegicus
Where were rats domesticated?
Europe, human settlements
What was the early use for rats?
rat baiting
What were rats domesticated for?
temperment change
1 Pro and 3 cons of rats as pets?
pro: cheap
con: highly susceptible to disease
- don’t live very long
- teeth never stop growing
What other rodent is included in family muridae?
mice
What is the scientific name for the domestic house mouse?
mus musculus domesticus
When were fancy mice domesticated?
1800s
Where were fancy mice originally domesticated?
Japan and China
What was a use for mice other than pets?
studying mendelian genetics
Why are mice and rats good for research? (6 reasons)
- reproduce and mature quickly
- easy to keep in captivity
- don’t need very much space
- small, easy to handle
- similar DNA to humans
- susceptible to many human diseases
What 3 physical qualities make rats good for human research?
- large brain
- intelligence
- brain structure resembles primitive humans
What are gerbils useful for in human research?
strokes and seizures
Why are gerbils prone to strokes and seizures?
incomplete Circle of Willis
What does crepuscular mean?
twilight time, before sunrise and after sunset
What does diurnal mean?
during the daytime
When are gerbils awake (terms)
crepuscular
How are gerbils with other gerbils?
territorial as adults. must introduce 2 gerbils as babies
How to/not to pick up a gerbil
never pick up by tip of tail (tail slipping)
pick up only by base of tail
