Rodents make up the largest group of mammals, and they all share one feature: a pair of front teeth that keep growing throughout life. Gnawing on seeds, roots and wood keeps those teeth worn down. The group ranges from the tiny harvest mouse, which weaves nests among stalks of grass, to the capybara of South America, the biggest rodent in the world. Prairie dogs live in huge underground towns, while gophers and pack rats are expert diggers and collectors.
Many rodents are also popular, gentle pets. Here you can read care guides for hamsters, gerbils and chinchillas, find advice on choosing pet rat cages, and explore profiles of wild species from deer mice to agoutis.
Rodents are small to medium-sized mammals with big front teeth that never stop growing, and many of them make wonderful pets. Some, like rats and guinea pigs, are perfect for families, while others are unusual animals that only experienced keepers should look after. Here is a guide to the most popular rodent pets and what…
The Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) is a large rodent from Argentina that looks a bit like a cross between a rabbit and a small deer. It is also called the Patagonian cavy or Patagonian hare, though it is not a hare at all. Maras are close relatives of guinea pigs and capybaras. Scientific Classification &…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Nile rat Scientific name Arvicanthis niloticus Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Muridae Genus Arvicanthis Conservation status Least Concern Type Large grass rat (also African grass rat) Diet Rat pellets, vegetables and fruit Habitat Savannah grassland, scrub and forest Colours Tawny to grey-brown with ticked…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name African ground squirrel Scientific name Xerus Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Sciuridae Type Ground-dwelling squirrel (genus Xerus) Diet Mostly plants (80-100%), plus some insects Habitat Grasslands, open woodland and rocky country Native range Africa Colours Brown to reddish-grey; white or buff belly Special feature…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Common shrew Scientific name Sorex araneus Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Eulipotyphla Family Soricidae Genus Sorex Conservation status Least Concern Type Tiny insect-eating mammal Diet Insects, worms, spiders and small amphibians Habitat Grassland, woodland and hedges; cool, damp places Native range Northern Europe and Great Britain,…
Chinchillas are small, fluffy rodents from the Andes Mountains of South America. They have some of the softest, thickest fur of any land animal, and they are most active at dawn and dusk. Today they are endangered in the wild but are also popular pets. Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Chinchilla Scientific name…
The harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) is one of the smallest rodents in the world, and the smallest in Britain. This tiny, gingery mouse lives in tall grasses and reeds across Europe and Asia, where it climbs stems using its gripping tail and weaves amazing ball-shaped nests high above the ground. Scientific Classification & Quick Facts…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Chinese hamster Scientific name Cricetulus barabensis Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Cricetidae Genus Cricetulus Conservation status Least Concern Type Small, slim hamster Diet Shoots, grasses, seeds and some insects Native range Deserts of Mongolia and northern China Size About 4 in (10 cm) long…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Campbell’s dwarf hamster Scientific name Phodopus campbelli Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Cricetidae Genus Phodopus Conservation status Least Concern Type Dwarf hamster Diet Hamster seed mix, nuts, seeds, mealworms Habitat Semi-arid steppe; lives in burrows Native range Central Asia, Tuva and north-east China Size…
African dormice (genus Graphiurus) are small, bushy-tailed rodents that live in trees and bushes across Africa south of the Sahara. The species most often kept as a pet is the woodland dormouse, sold as the African pygmy dormouse and sometimes nicknamed the “micro squirrel” because it looks like a tiny squirrel. Scientific Classification & Quick…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Degu Scientific name Octodon degus Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Octodontidae Genus Octodon Conservation status Least Concern Type Social burrowing rodent Diet Grass hay, pellets and vegetables Native range West-central Chile, Andes foothills Size Body 25-31 cm (9.8-12.2 in) Weight 170-300 g Colours Yellow-brown…
Scientific Classification & Quick Facts Common name Pack rat Scientific name Neotoma Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Mammalia Order Rodentia Family Cricetidae Type Rodent also called wood rat Diet Vegetation, cactus, acorns, fruit and seeds Habitat Deserts to rocky slopes; builds stick dens Native range Western USA, Mexico and western Canada Size Males 31-47 cm…