The name Rodentia is derived from the Latin verb rodere (to gnaw), in allusion to the gnawing habits of the group. Among North American mammals, rodents are unique in that the incisors are reduced in number to one on each side above and below, in the absence of canines, and in the presence of never more than two premolars in each jaw above and one below.Most animals assigned to the order are small in size; some, for example the beaver, may exceed 25 kg (about 55 lbs) in weight. Rodents comprise more than one-third of the known kinds of mammals, and individually they are the most abundant mammal in many sections of the world.
When my kids were little we had all kinds of pets. Birds, fish, cats, bunnies, chickens, a dog. ( Not all at the same time, but a small zoo at times! ) A personal favorite group of pets we raised were our pet rodentia... ( thanks to inspiration and instruction from my good friend, Jennifer, a High School Biologist ) ... our little mice :D
When my kids were little we had all kinds of pets. Birds, fish, cats, bunnies, chickens, a dog. ( Not all at the same time, but a small zoo at times! ) A personal favorite group of pets we raised were our pet rodentia... ( thanks to inspiration and instruction from my good friend, Jennifer, a High School Biologist ) ... our little mice :D
These cute little fellas were very soft and small, with quivery snouts, long whiskers, thin pink ears and long tails that would wrap around your fingers as they sniffed about. We had all kinds, white ones, silver ones, black, brown, even some super cute long haired polka dotted, and spotted ones!!! Alas, I did not get any pics of them back in those days ( would you believe? ). So for now, maybe you would like to see a few images of my next favorite rodentia... this one is hiding and he(she?) thinks I can't see him... but with my sx50 little does he know! ;)
