Small rodent. Rodents and hares. Prairie and Chinese dog

Nobody knows when people first got acquainted with rats, this animal always lives next to us.

The rat belongs to mammals, to the order - rodents, suborder - murine. The most common animal is the rat on the planet.

The appearance of the rat, description and characteristics

The body of the rat is oval and stocky. The body of the animal is from 8 cm to 30 cm, weighing up to 500 g, there are small ones weighing 37 grams.

The eyes and ears are small, the muzzle is sharp and elongated. Is the tail longer than the size of the body of a rat, without hair or covered with fine hair? invisible to the human eye (a variety of black rats has a tail with a thick coat of hair). In the world there is a variety of short-tailed rodents.

The teeth of the rat are located tightly to each other in rows and are designed for chewing food. These animals are omnivorous, differ from other predators in the absence of fangs and diastema - this is the area on the gums where there are no teeth.

There are no tooth roots, so growth occurs continuously throughout the life of the rat. For convenience, they need to constantly grind their teeth otherwise she will not be able to close her mouth.

The teeth are strong with hard yellow enamel, which makes it easy to gnaw through concrete, cement and various hard metals.

The body of the rodent is covered with thick, dense hair from guard hairs. The color scheme of the color is varied, gray with different shades of dark or light, red, orange and even yellow.

These amazing animals have movable toes on their paws, so they easily climb trees and prepare nests in hollows for living.

Rats are very active and mobile animals run 17 km a day, jump up to 1 meter in height. They swim well, are not afraid of water and can fish.

Rats often turn their heads in different directions because they have a small viewing angle, the world seen in gray tones.

Hearing functions perfectly, rats distinguish sounds with a frequency of up to 40 kHz (humans up to 20 kHz).

Life expectancy from 1 year to 3 years. Under laboratory conditions, rats can live twice as long.

The difference between rats and mice

Rats and mice are representatives of the same suborder, but they differ significantly in appearance and behavior.

The body of a mouse is small, up to 20 cm, weighing up to 50 grams, rats are twice as large, they are dense and muscular, weighing up to 900 grams.

Pronounced distinctive shapes of the head and eyes, in mice it is triangular and slightly flattened with big eyes, in rats, the muzzle is elongated with small eyes.

A strong body, powerful toes on the paws allow rats to jump high up to 1 meter, mice cannot do such tricks.

Mice are a cowardly animal and are afraid to get into people's eyes, but rats are not embarrassed, they can protect themselves. There are many cases where they attacked a person.

Rats are omnivorous, eating meat and plant foods. Mice, on the contrary, prefer cereal crops, seeds more.

Rat habitat and lifestyle

Large rats live all over the world, except for Antarctica and the polar regions. They live in groups, rarely live alone.

Most often, groups consist of hundreds of individuals with one male at the head and two or three females. The territory of residence for each group has its own length of up to 2 thousand square meters.

The diet depends on the habitat. Omnivorous rats eat about 25 grams of food per day, but without water it’s hard for them daily rate moisture up to 35 ml.

Gray rats mainly feed on protein foods of animal origin, small rodents, toads, and chicks.

Black rats prefer food of plant origin: green plants, nuts, fruits, cereals.

Rats are wary of pigs, hedgehogs, ferrets, dogs and cats - these are the main land enemies. Among birds, the rodents of the hawk, the owl, the eagle and the kite are feared and wary.

Reproduction and lifespan of rats

There is no mating season for rats, they can breed all year round. But the peak of sexual activity comes in the spring-summer. The female mates with different males, the pregnancy in rats lasts up to 24 days, the lactating female carries the cubs up to 34 days.

In advance, rats prepare nests, for the birth of offspring they cover the bottom with soft grass, cloth, paper. The cubs appear naked and blind. At the birth of dead rats, the mother devours them, the number at birth can be up to 20.

The male can eat all the offspring, if there are non-viable rat pups, he does not take part in caring for them. The female, on the contrary, conducts reverent care, feeds with milk, licks the babies and cleans the nest from debris.

After 17 days, little rat pups open their eyes, and a month later they lead a full-fledged lifestyle on their own. After 3-4 months, puberty occurs, they can multiply 6 months after birth. Life expectancy up to two years.

Gray rats breed up to 8 times a year, but black ones only in the warm season. To date, experts have calculated that there are 2 rats per person in the world.

Why are rats dangerous?

Rats are a problem for all mankind. They gnaw through the walls in the basements of houses, sewer pipes, harm electrical mains, damage crops.

Rats are carriers of more than 20 infectious diseases such as leptospirosis, plague, salmonellosis, pseudotuberculosis and others. Many are dangerously fatal to human life.

It is difficult to exterminate rats with chemicals, because the animal's body quickly adapts to the poison and develops a protective immunity to toxins.

Rats are a pet

Rats are the perfect pets. They are quickly tamed to a person, they recognize their owner by the face.

Neat and clean animals do not require special care. They will give their owner a lot of funny moments, it is very interesting to watch them.

But the owner of a domestic rat should not forget that this is a social animal and it is difficult for them to live alone. A rat definitely needs a pair, otherwise a mental disorder may develop.

Variety of rats, name and photo

There are about 70 species of rat in the world, most of which are poorly understood, below are the common types of rodents with brief description and a photo of a rat.

The gray rat (pasyuk) is one of the large varieties up to 25 cm long, the tail is not taken into account. Weight from 140 grams to 390 grams, with a wide elongated muzzle. The coat of young animals is gray with age, becoming orange in color. It lives near water, in dense vegetation and digs holes up to 5 meters.

The black rat is smaller than the gray rat, with a much smaller muzzle and rounded ears. Body length up to 22 cm, weight about 300 grams. A significant difference of this species of rodents is the tail, which is densely covered with hair and 4-5 times longer than the size of the body.

Lives in Asia, Africa and Europe. For a long time it can live without water, therefore it lives in arid places. The coat is black with a green tint.

The small rat differs from its counterparts in size. Body length up to 15 cm maximum with body weight up to 80 grams. It has a brown coat color, a sharp muzzle and inconspicuous small ears. The tail is as long as the body, without signs of hair. Lives in Southeast Asia.

The long-haired rat is distinguished by its long hair and high activity. Males grow up to 18 cm, and females up to 16 cm in length. The tail is smaller in size from the body by 4-5 cm. Habitat in arid deserts.

The Turkestan rat lives in China, Nepal, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan. The coat is red, the abdomen is pale yellow, the body length is up to 23 cm. This variety is similar to gray, but has a denser body and a broad head in size.

Black-tailed rat or rabbit. It has an average size of up to 22 cm, weight about 190 grams.

An interesting feature of this type of tail is a tuft of wool at the tip.

The back is painted in gray and Brown color with conspicuous black hairs.

They live in Australia and New Guinea mainly in eucalyptus forests, dense grass and shrubs. They are active at night and hide in burrows during the day.

Interesting and informative facts about the life of rats

In India, there is a Karni Mata temple where rats are revered, cared for and protected. In case of violation of the rules for caring for a sacred animal and killing it, this person is obliged to bring a golden statuette in the form of a rat to the temple.

In some US states, hitting a rat with a baseball bat is illegal and carries a $1,000 fine.

In Asian and African countries, rats are considered a worthy delicacy for a festive dinner. Rat meat is considered a delicacy.

In a year, a gray rat eats up to 12 kg of various cereal products. Experts have calculated that about 6 kg of the harvest of one farmer is spent annually on the food of one rat.

Types of hamsters

If you decide to get a small fluffy pet, you should know that, unlike a dog, he will not become your servant or property. The hamster will simply live next to you and communicate with people only when he wants to. The word "master" does not exist for him, and, alas, you will have to come to terms with this.

Most hamsters living in wild nature are fairly large animals. The body length of individual individuals reaches 30 cm. Keeping them at home, as a rule, is very problematic.

In the family of hamsters, there is also a genus of hamsters, numbering 5-7 species, distributed mainly in the forest-steppe and steppe zones of Europe and North Asia. The size of these animals is small: their body length does not exceed 15 cm. Many of them do not require complex care, so they are domesticated and successfully kept in captivity.

common hamster

The common hamster is a very beautiful animal. Its coat is painted in bright colors: the back and sides are red, the abdomen is black, the paws and nose are white, and there are 3 white spots on the chest and sides of the head. Occasionally there are specimens with black and white and almost black color. The body length of the animal is 25-30 cm.

Ordinary hamsters live in the steppe and forest-steppe zones of southern Europe, Western Siberia, in northern Kazakhstan and east of these regions, up to the Yenisei, sometimes penetrate further north. Animals willingly settle on the outskirts of fields and gardens.

Hamsters dig solid burrows, the depth of which sometimes reaches 2.5 m. In them they arrange numerous pantries connected by tunnels, as well as nesting chambers. At the end of summer, animals begin to stock up for the winter, filling their pantries with grain, potatoes, carrots, corn, and other similar products.

The mass of stored food usually reaches 10-20 kg, although there have been cases when up to 90 kg of grain was found in the storerooms of hamsters. These reserves are necessary for animals to feed in winter, when they periodically wake up, and when they are satisfied, they again hibernate. In addition, this food will come in handy for animals in the spring, when there is not enough food.

In summer, hamsters feed on grasses, roots, plant seeds, catch and eat insects, and sometimes small animals, such as mice. Rodents are active at night. If an enemy (a fox, a dog or a person) unexpectedly blocks the hamster's path into its hole, it can rush at the enemy and bite him painfully.

From April to October, females have 2 or 3 broods, numbering from 10 to 20 cubs. During the period of mass reproduction, hamsters cause significant damage to the fields, so they have to be exterminated. Animal skins are used as cheap furs.

rat-like hamster

The rat-shaped hamster is found in Primorye, Korea and China. It settles, as a rule, in river valleys. The body length of the animal is 18-25 cm. A distinctive feature of this species is a rather long tail. Its length, equal to 7-10 cm, is usually less than length body of the animal about 2 times. The tail is gray-brown in color, and below and at the tip it is lighter than above. In contrast to the longer rat tail, the tail of rat hamsters is pubescent and does not have transverse rings. This species of rodents differs from water rats and large voles in its large ears and colored White color paws.

Compared to other representatives of the genus, the rat-like hamster digs the most difficult holes. In its pantries, the animal accumulates large stocks of seeds or grain from nearby fields. He feeds on this food throughout the winter. In summer, rat-like hamsters eat the seeds of herbaceous plants, as well as greens and animal food. Rodents breed from April to October. During this period, the female manages to feed 2-3 broods, the number of cubs in which sometimes reaches 20, but usually there are from 8 to 10.

gray hamster

The gray hamster lives on the territory of the European part of Russia north to the Moscow region and the mouth of the Kama and Oka, as well as in the Caucasus and the south of Western Siberia to the foothills of Altai in the east. Prefers grass and wormwood steppes, semi-fixed sands, areas of dry mountain steppes, agricultural lands. Sometimes the animal can be found in urban buildings. The hamster was brought to Moscow, and feral individuals took root in some areas of the city (for example, at the Belorussky railway station).

The gray hamster is a small, short-tailed animal. The length of its body is 9.5-13 cm, and the tail is 2-3.5 cm. The ears of a hamster are relatively small, rounded; muzzle pointed; feet are slightly pubescent, finger tubercles are clearly visible on them; the tail is covered with short hairs.

Body coloration gray hamster it can be smoky gray, dark gray or brownish gray, less often - reddish-sandy. In some individuals, a dark stripe runs along the head and tail, painted to match the main color. On the abdomen, the fur is light gray or white, on the paws is white.

The food of the animal is mainly immature seeds and inflorescences of wild and cultivated plants. In addition, the hamster feeds on terrestrial mollusks, beetles, ants, grasshoppers, and insect larvae.

For the winter, the animals store a lot of food, but in hibernation only those animals that live in the north of the range and in high mountainous regions flow into it.

Hamsters breed from April to October. During this period, the female manages to feed 2-3 broods. There are from 3 to 10 cubs in a litter, but most often 7 are born.

Gray hamsters are kept at home. The rules for caring for them are the same as for Syrian hamsters.

The Dahurian hamster is found in the steppe and forest-steppe zones in the territory from the Irtysh to Transbaikalia, as well as in the meadows of Southern Primorye. The length of the body of the animal is from 8 to 13 cm, the tail is 2-3.5 cm. The hamster prefers to make holes on the edges, in beams, bushes, on the outskirts of fields, and in the sandy steppes its favorite habitat is thickets of caragana.

The coat of the Dahurian hamster is brown or reddish. A black stripe runs along the forehead and along the back of the animal. The belly is gray, the ears are with a white border.

The animal feeds on seeds, eats insects. The hamster does not hibernate for the whole winter. Usually he periodically falls asleep for several days, but during periods of wakefulness he hardly leaves the mink.

long-tailed hamster

The long-tailed hamster lives in the mountain steppes of Tuva, Sayan Mountains and Southwestern Transbaikalia. The animal prefers to settle on the rocky slopes of the mountains, on talus and in the rocks. He arranges burrows under stones among the rocks.

The length of the body of a long-tailed hamster is 9-12 cm, the tail is 3-5 cm. The fur of the animal is most often dark gray, sometimes with a redhead, on the abdomen - light gray. The ears, like those of the Daurian hamster, are bordered by a thin white stripe. The tail is dark gray above and light gray below.

The long-tailed hamster feeds on plant seeds. He especially likes seeds of wild almonds, caragana and cereals. Willingly eats animals and insects. In winter, it hibernates only occasionally.

The breeding season for long-tailed hamsters lasts from April to August. The number of cubs in a litter ranges from 4 to 9.

Eversman's hamster

The habitat of the Eversmann hamster is quite extensive. The animal is distributed in the territory from the Middle and Lower Volga to the upper reaches of the Lena River in the east and south to the Aral Sea. He prefers to settle in the wormwood steppes, on solonetzes, virgin lands and the outskirts of plowed lands. The hamster never arranges his minks in over-moistened places.

Eversmann's hamster is slightly larger than the average house mouse. It has a very small tail and short legs. The muzzle of the animal is slightly pointed, the ears are small, with rounded tips, the soles of the paws are slightly pubescent, with clearly visible digital tubercles, the tail is slightly compacted, covered with dense short and soft hairs, expanding at the base.

Eversmann's hamster is characterized by a variety of colors. The color of the fur on the back varies from black and white to ash-sandy and fawn-red. The pure white color of the abdomen contrasts sharply with the dark fur on the sides. On the neck and between the front paws on the chest there is a clearly marked spot of brownish or ocher color. The legs and underside of the tail are white. The short coat of a hamster is surprisingly soft and velvety.

The animal feeds mainly on seeds and shoots of cereal grasses, wormwood, saltwort, tulip bulbs. Occasionally it eats insects and their larvae.

The holes of the Eversmann hamster are relatively simple. They consist of the main passage, which can be inclined or vertical, and a nesting chamber. Some hamsters break through branching snouts.

The breeding season for animals begins in April and ends in September. During this time, the female grows 2-3 litters. There are 4-5 cubs in each litter. Eversmann's hamsters hibernate in October. Often it is intermittent.

Djungarian hamster

The Dzungarian hamster belongs to the genus of upland hamsters. This species has been studied better than others. IN natural conditions the animal is common in the steppes and semi-deserts of Western Siberia, Central and Central Asia, as well as in North-Eastern Kazakhstan.

Djungarian hamsters prefer to settle in xerophytic desert grass, wormwood and cinquefoil steppes without bushes. These animals can also be found in gravelly steppes and semi-fixed sands, occasionally on cultivated lands. In recent years, they have firmly established themselves in the vivariums of scientific institutions and in living corners.

Adult Djungarian hamsters reach a length of 10 cm. The muzzle of the animal is pointed, the ears are small. The soles of the paws are covered with thick hair that hides the digital tubercles. The fur on the back is brownish or ocher-gray. In some animals, it is darker on the sides. The abdomen is light. The border between the coloration of the back and abdomen is distinctly expressed. A narrow black stripe runs along the spine of the Djungarian hamster. His paws are white, his ears are also white on the inside, and black on the outside.

In summer, the color of the animals becomes grayish. In winter, especially when kept in cool rooms, they become almost white, and the spine acquires a silvery-gray color.

Djungarian hamsters are active at dusk and at night. Animals arrange burrows with several entrances, burrows and a nesting chamber. Animals feed mainly on seeds and green parts of herbaceous plants. They also eat insects. Hamsters store seeds for the winter. They do not hibernate. By November-December, the fur of the animals becomes white, thanks to which they can from time to time get out of the minks to the surface.

Representatives of the genus of legged hamsters are very decorative, which include the Dzungarian, Siberian hamsters, as well as the Roborovsky hamster. These animals have thick fur that covers not only the body, but also the soles of the hind legs. In length, these animals reach only 10 cm. They have a very short tail (from 0.8 to 1.5 cm). The ears are black with a white stripe.

The breeding season lasts from March to September. During this time, the female manages to feed 3-4 broods, each of which has 6-8 (sometimes up to 12) cubs. Hamsters reach sexual maturity very early. Having reached the age of 4 months, young animals from the first brood can already breed.

Djungarian hamsters are cute, good-natured animals that live well in captivity.

Siberian hamster

Siberian hamster in his own way appearance very similar to the Dzungarian and belongs to the same genus of furry-legged hamsters. But his coat is much lighter than that of the Djungarian hamster. It also turns white in winter. The Siberian hamster lives in the dry plain and hilly steppes of Tuva. The animal digs holes the same as the Djungarian hamster.

Roborovsky hamster

The Roborovski hamster is the third species of the genus of legged hamsters - lives in loosely fixed sandy deserts, overgrown with caragana. This is a very small animal with a short tail, which is almost invisible under the fluffy fur. The muzzle of the hamster is snub-nosed, the ears are relatively large, rounded, the soles of the paws are densely pubescent. The coloration of the back is pink-fawn, the abdomen and legs are pure white. There are small white spots above the eyes. Black ears have a white border. There are no stripes on the back.

The food for the Roborovsky hamster is mainly beet seeds, caragana, saltwort, cereals, sedges, tulip bulbs. The animal catches and eats insects only occasionally.

Hamsters are active at dusk and at night. Burrows in the sand arrange shallow ones. They consist of 1-2 passages and a nesting chamber. The breeding season lasts from May to September. During this time, the female brings 3-4 litters, each of which has from 3 to 9 cubs.

A few years ago, the Roborovsky hamster gained popularity as a pet. This is an ideal pet, because it is unpretentious to living conditions and does not require complex care.

At the bottom of the metal cage in which the animal settles, a layer of sand 2-3 cm thick is poured, several stones, moss, hay, thin twigs are placed and a box is placed where the animal could hide from prying eyes and rest. As the sand gets dirty, it is replaced with clean sand.

Taylor's dwarf hamster

Taylor's dwarf hamster lives in Arizona, Texas, in the south of Central Mexico, in southern Mexico and Central America to Nicaragua. Animals usually live in clearings or grassy edges. Under the thick grass, they lay a network of paths. Rodents nest in small depressions under the protection of a bush or stone.

Dwarf hamsters feed mainly on plant foods - seeds and shoots of grasses, but sometimes they also eat insects. Animals are active at night. The radius of the individual plot of the Taylor hamster is small - about 30 m. On one hectare, there are usually from 15 to 20 individuals.

The smallest of the mouse-like rodents that live in the Americas are dwarf hamsters. Their body length is only 5-8 cm, the tail is slightly shorter. The mass of adults does not exceed 7~8 g. The back of dwarf hamsters is grayish-brown, and the abdomen is light.

Rodents breed all year round. Pregnancy of the female lasts 20 days, after which she gives birth to from 1 to 5 cubs (usually 3). In total, one female can feed up to 10 broods per year. Newborn babies are quite large. Each of them weighs about 1 g. It is interesting that the male of dwarf hamsters does not leave the nest after the birth of offspring. He stays with the female and even helps her take care of the cubs, which is absolutely uncharacteristic for rodents.

After 20 days, young animals leave the nest and begin to live independently. They reach puberty as early as 10 weeks of age.

Dwarf hamsters live well and breed in captivity. These good-natured animals very quickly get used to a person, become tame and very rarely bite. They can be kept in large groups.

Hamsters altiplano

Altiplano hamsters got their name from where they live. They live in the dry high plains of the Andes, from the south of Bolivia to the north of Chile, at an altitude of 4000-4600 m above sea level. They inhabit mainly rocky and rocky areas.

In appearance, these rodents resemble gerbils or mice and rats with well-furred tails. The body length of the animals ranges from 8 to 17 cm. The length of the tail is about the same. The thick and soft fur of Altiplano hamsters is colored in brownish-yellowish tones. Abdomen or breast and neck pure white.

Altiplano hamsters are nocturnal animals. During winter, the animals presumably hibernate, since at this time of the year they do not show any signs of activity. The main food for rodents is insects.

Usually altipla hamsters do not make their own burrows. They settle among stones or occupy other people's nests, often expelling the former owner from them. There are cases of penetration of rodents into human buildings, but human dwellings in such high-altitude areas are very rare.

Golden, or Syrian, hamster

The golden, or Syrian, hamster is one of the best inhabitants of a home living corner. He is unpretentious, hardy and prolific. In addition, this is a very funny animal that will give you a lot of pleasure with its habits. Since, unlike other types of hamsters, it is the Syrian hamster that has gained the greatest popularity as a pet, in the future we will mainly talk about it.

The golden hamster is a small animal. In size, it is 2 times smaller than a rat. This rodent is very similar to common hamster. But unlike its large and vicious relative, which brings a lot of harm to people, the Syrian hamster is a completely harmless creature. In addition to becoming one of the most desirable inhabitants of living corners, this animal is indispensable as a laboratory animal for a wide variety of scientific research.

The body length of the golden hamster reaches 17-18 cm. It is stocky. The tail of the animal is very short. The fur on the back is usually reddish-brown, buffy-brown or golden yellow. It is thick, soft and velvety.

The abdomen is light. Currently, breeders have bred several varieties of the Syrian hamster.

In nature, Syrian hamsters prefer to settle in foothill steppe landscapes, meadow steppes and crops. They live alone in burrows, the depth of which reaches 2-2.5 m. Like all their relatives, Syrian hamsters stock up for the winter. They hibernate at a temperature of about 4 ° C.

In captivity, the Syrian hamster lives a little - 2-2.5 years, but with good conditions content can live 3 or even 4 years.

The mouse family or mice are small animals of the mammal class belonging to the order of rodents, which has not been finally classified. The huge family includes 4 subfamilies, which includes 147 genera and 701 species. Animals are found everywhere, especially for a species of mice called. The attitude of people towards these representatives of the fauna is ambiguous. Someone is fighting them, trying to rid their house of uninvited "guests", while others specially breed and tame small rodents.

General characteristics of mouse representatives

A large family of mice is not fully understood. On the territory of Russia, there are 13 species of animals from the order of rodents, which are representatives of 5 genera. All of them have a similar appearance, and lead almost the same lifestyle. Possessing a unique ability to adapt to any living conditions, mice feel great in all natural areas. The exceptions are the regions of the Far North and Antarctica. The ubiquitous distribution of various rodent species allows us to speak of the numerical dominance of their representatives among other mammals.

Interesting!

The familiar word "mouse" in translation from the Indo-European language means "thief", which is fully justified by the habits of a nimble animal.

Appearance:

• The mammal has a small elongated body. Its dimensions, depending on the species of the individual, range from 5 to 20 cm. This parameter is doubled due to the tail.
• The body of the mouse is covered with short hair, the color palette of which is presented in gray, brown, red or brown. In nature, there are striped and variegated individuals, as well as snow-white albino rodents.
• The average weight of a mouse is 20-50 grams.
• Animals have short necks.
• On a pointed, triangular-shaped muzzle, there are small black beady eyes and semicircular ears, providing good sound perception.
• Due to sensitive thin whiskers - vibrissae, growing around the nose of the mouse, it is able to perfectly navigate the environment.
• Short paws are equipped with 5 tenacious fingers, which allow to overcome significant obstacles and dig holes.

To get acquainted with representatives of the rodent order, it is advisable to carefully study the photos of the mouse posted on the site.

Rodents are highly prolific. At the age of 3 months, the female is capable of conception and childbearing. wild mouse, living in natural conditions, in the warm season, animals living in heated rooms - all year round. The pregnancy lasts approximately 20-24 days and, after this time, from 3 to 12 cubs are born.

Mice are born absolutely helpless - blind, toothless, naked. The mouse feeds from about a month with milk. By day 10, the offspring is completely covered with wool, and after 3 weeks it becomes independent and settles. Under favorable conditions, the population is growing rapidly. The average is calculated 1-1.5 years. Genetically, they are able to exist for 5 years, but how long the animal lives depends on the specific circumstances.

On a note!

Bats do not belong to the mouse family. They are representatives of the order of bats, which is the second largest after rodents.

Lifestyle

The mouse is capable of causing great harm to humans. The rodent by its nature and food habits is a predator. But the pest mainly consumes plant foods and therefore its diet consists of seeds, fruits of trees or shrubs and cereals. Mice living in swampy areas, in wet or flooded meadows, feed on buds, foliage or flowers. various plants.

Interesting!

The strong smell of cheese can scare away a rodent.

Various breeds of mice, having settled almost all over the planet, equipping their habitat, can make nests from grass stalks, occupy abandoned burrows, old hollows, or dig complex underground systems with many passages. Once in a person's house, rodents settle under the floor, in attics, between walls. Unlike representatives that live in swamps and near water bodies, steppe, mountain and swim poorly.

The active life of animals coincides with the evening or night time of the day, but they try not to move a long distance from their home. The mouse has many enemies, these include birds of prey, reptiles, mongooses, foxes, cats, crows and other representatives of the fauna.

Mouse make huge stocks for the winter, but do not hibernate.

Mostly voracious and ubiquitous rodents are harmful, but there is one area of ​​\u200b\u200bscience in which the omnivorous mouse is useful and irreplaceable. These are special laboratories of a scientific and medical profile, where animals become guinea pigs. Thanks to these little animals, we managed to do a lot important discoveries in genetics, pharmacology, physiology and other sciences. Surprising is the fact that 80% of the genes endowed live mouse, are similar to human structures.

The diversity of the family of mice

The names of mice, which are often associated with the habitat, like their varieties, are very diverse. Most often in nature there are such types of rodents:

• African;
• baby mice;
• mountain;
• brownies;
• forest;
• herbal;
• striped;
• spiny and other individuals.

On the territory of Russia, the most common are such 3 types of mice - house, forest and field.

Interesting!

Most mice live in packs. Relationships are subject to strict hierarchical system, which is headed by a male and several "privileged" females. Each mouse is assigned a certain territory where they can get food. The offspring are brought up together, but upon reaching the "age of majority" they are amicably expelled from the family for independent living.

The species of mice that exist in nature differ in size, color, and habitat. Let us consider in more detail some representatives of the order of rodents.

African mice

grass mice

Mostly representatives of this genus live in Africa, in the eastern part of the continent. The rodent mouse settles in thickets of bushes, occupies other people's minks or digs them on its own, but it can penetrate into people's houses. Animals are among the largest and can reach 19 cm in length (with a tail, this parameter is 35 cm), with a weight of more than 100 g. The fur of the back and sides of the mouse is painted in dark gray or grayish-brown tones. Individual stiff bristles are darker in color.

On a note!

The herbivorous mouse lives in large colonies, making devastating raids on farmland.

forest dweller

The animal lives in natural conditions, equipping its dwelling in bushes, on forest edges, in floodplains of rivers. The main placements of mice are mixed and broadleaf forests Caucasus, Kazakhstan, Altai, Eastern Europe. The body length is 10-11 cm, the tail is 7 cm, and the weight is approximately 20 g. The mouse with large round ears, which is its main difference from relatives, is characterized by a sharp muzzle, two-color colors. The upper part of the body and tail are painted in red-brown or even black tones, and the tummy, legs and fingers are white.

The mouse hibernates in burrows located at a depth of 2 m and comes out with the onset of a thaw. The main food is grain, seeds, young tree seedlings, but rodents do not refuse insects.

yellow-throated mouse

Gerbil

The mouse came to the territory of the Russian Federation from the USA. She was brought for laboratory research, but quickly settled as a pet. The mouse is characterized by an unpleasant odor, although it looks like a very sweet, friendly creature. There are more than 100 subspecies of the gerbil in the world, of which the pygmy and Mongolian mice breeds live with us. The tummy of the animal is almost white, and the brown-red back is decorated with a bright black strip along the entire body. The rodent has neat little ears, a pink nose, a blunt muzzle and large beady eyes. A mouse with a tassel on its tail can be found quite often among lovers of exotic animals.

Harvest mouse

Outwardly, the mouse is very similar to the gerbil, and in everyday life it can be called a vole. Under natural conditions, it lives in fields, meadows and harms agriculture. In flood-prone areas, it may nest in bushes. The dark, reddish-brown color of the upper body with black stripes contrasts sharply with the white belly and paws of the mouse. The body length varies from 7 to 12 cm, the tail of the animal is not very large.

Mice are active at night, since during the day they have to hide from numerous predatory animals, which include such a reptile as a snake. The diet of rodents consists mainly of plant foods, but they can feast on various insects. High fecundity allows maintaining the population of field mice. They feel great in Europe, Siberia, Primorye, Mongolia and other places. The mouse in the photo posted on the site will allow you to carefully examine the small animal.

House mouse

The most common type of rodent. Gray mouse, making its way into people's apartments, brings a lot of problems, spoils food, gnaws on furniture, electrical wiring, walls, things and other interior items. The habitat of pests is all landscape and natural zones, with the exception of the Far North and Antarctica. The gray-humped mouse (another name for a mammal) digs holes on its own, but can also occupy abandoned dwellings.

• The dimensions of the animal do not exceed 9.5 cm, taking into account the tail, its total length is 15 cm.
• The weight of the mouse varies from 12 to 30 grams.
• The main food products are seeds and juicy greens, however, once in a human house, the mouse becomes an omnivore.

One of the varieties of animals is the black mouse.

People are ambivalent about rodents. As a result of this, quite often at home you can find unusual mice that are real favorites of family members. Manual pets can be trained, perform simple tricks with small objects. A large detachment of rodents can not only cause damage, but also give joy.

In the article I will consider the different types and which rodent to choose as a pet, their maintenance and breeding. I will tell you about the features of caring for each type of animal from the list.

The most popular types of rodents for home keeping

Hamsters

The cost of the animal is from 200 rubles and more.

This is a cute nocturnal animal. It is quite difficult to tame him, but it is possible. For its maintenance, you will need from strong rods with a house, a pair of ladders or tunnels and feeders.

The cost of the animal is from 300 to 500 rubles.

Or the Chilean squirrel weighs an average of 300-500 g and reaches a length of 30 cm. The rodent itself is inexpensive, but its maintenance requires money and time. First of all, he needs a home. Since this is a protein, then the corresponding cell is needed. The cost of a cage for squirrels is 3000-3500 rubles.

Degu is a pack animal, so it does not get along well with other animals. Alone, the Chilean squirrel lives much less. They are comfortable to keep in pairs.

The degu's coat is dense and coarse, so it should be brushed regularly. The animal will cope with this on its own, but it needs a sand bath installed in the cage.

Grabbing or lifting a degu by the tail is strictly prohibited. If you pinch his tail, the skin will peel off and the animal will run away. The exposed section of the tail bleeds and dies.

Degus are very sensitive to heat and high humidity, cold and noise. Optimum temperature for him 24-26 degrees. Pungent odors also adversely affect the condition of the animal.

Also, a cage with an animal cannot be placed next to such houseplants as:

• Sanseviera;
• Room feces (Spathiphyllum);
• Feronia;
• threader;
• Flamingo flower.

The main quality of degus is their sociability. Walking is one way to bond with your baby.

Degas should be released into the apartment under exceptional supervision. He will chew on anything that gets in his way.

In this article, we examined several types of rodents and their breeds. They also learned how to care for each of the species. Noticed some features of the breeds.

The first representatives of the order Rodents appeared in the Cretaceous era. And they became known to science from the beginning of the Paleocene. Paleontologists believe that the ancestors of rodents were insectivores.

Squad Rodents: general characteristics

Among the animals of this order there are representatives of completely different weight categories. The body length of the mouse is 5 cm. The capybara can reach 130 cm in length, and its body weight varies from 6 to 60 kg. Due to the wide variety of species, the external structure of the body of rodents may differ. For example, the limbs may have a different appearance. Rodents have 5- or 4-toed forelimbs and 3-, 4-, 5-toed hind limbs. hairline very diverse - from thick and soft to sparse, bristle-like or even forming needles. Coloring is also varied. There are no sweat glands on the body, only the presence of sebaceous glands is characteristic. The location of the sweat glands are the soles. The number of nipples varies from 2 to 12 pairs.

Representatives of numerous families also differ in type of nutrition. It is possible to distinguish herbivorous, omnivorous, insectivorous and fish-eating rodents.

Structural features

Characteristic features are smooth cerebral hemispheres; imperfection of thermoregulation; the presence of two pairs of strongly enlarged middle incisors that grow throughout life and do not have roots. In shape, these teeth are chisel-like and very sharp, with incisors inside covered with soft dentin, while the front part is covered with hard enamel on top. This feature of the structure allows the cutters to self-sharpen if necessary. Canine teeth are absent in rodents, and there is a diastema (empty space) between the incisors and molars. In total, the number of teeth in different species varies from 12 to 20.

Depending on the lifestyle and type of nutrition, molars may differ in the structure of the tooth surface. It can be tuberculate or comb-shaped. Lips perform a protective function, protecting the mouth from various kinds of unnecessary particles. The structure located behind the cheeks and closing the jaw, allows, if necessary, to protrude the front jaw. It was the differences in the configuration of these muscles that served as a sign by which rodents are classified. The stomach can be simple or multi-chambered. All but dormouse are characterized by the presence of a caecum, but there is no spiral fold in it.

Classification of the order Rodents

The order Rodents has not been definitively classified. Until recently, the lagomorphs, now singled out as a separate detachment, also belonged to it.

To date, more than 40 families are known, 30 of which include modern representatives this squad. Species diversity It is represented very widely, in the order Rodents, according to various sources, there are from 1600 to 2000 species.

The ubiquitous distribution of various rodent species allows us to speak of the numerical dominance of their representatives among mammals. 150 species from 11 modern families, including Flying, Squirrel, Beaver, Hamster, Slepyshovye, Mouse, Dormouse, Jerboa, etc., inhabit open landscapes of temperate and subtropical zones, especially arid zones. Many species are characterized by a semi-underground lifestyle, when only food is provided on the surface.

Wild and domestic rodents, nocturnal and diurnal, small and large - a great many of their representatives are settled all over the world.

The meaning of rodents

Rodents are known to take Active participation in soil formation. Their burrowing activity has a positive effect on plant productivity.

Life expectancy depends on size: small rodent animals live from 1.5 to 2 years, and large ones - from 4 to 7 years. The onset of puberty in small species occurs in 2-3 months, and in large species - in 1-1.5 years. The number of rodents of the smallest size, which are able to give birth to 6-8 times 8-15 cubs per year, can increase hundreds of times in some of the years. Then rodents cause enormous harm to agriculture. Among the animals of the detachment there are dangerous ones, those that are carriers and pathogens of serious diseases. These are, for example, ground squirrels and marmots. Squirrels, muskrats and nutrias have valuable fur, in this regard they have become an important object of the fur trade. Two species and 5 subspecies of rodents are listed in the Red Book.

Typical representatives of the detachment

The families that make up the order Rodents, the list of which is presented below, include the most diverse animals in appearance and lifestyle.

• Sem. Squirrels: common squirrel, ground squirrel, chipmunk, mexican marmot.
• Sem. Flying: flying squirrel.
• Sem. Gopher: plain gopher.
• Sem. Beavers: beaver.
• Sem. Long-legged: long-legged.
• Sem. Hamsters: Djungarian hamster, common zokor, vole, hoofed lemming, Siberian lemming, great gerbil.
• Sem. Slepyshovye:
• Sem. pasyuk.
• Sem. Dormouse: garden dormouse.
• Sem. Selevinia: Selevinia.
• Sem. Mouser: forest mouse.
• Sem. Jerboas: fat-tailed jerboa, large jerboa.
• Sem. Porcupines: Indian porcupine.
• Sem. American porcupines: prehensile-tailed porcupine.
• Sem. Mumps: guinea pig, Patagonian mara.
• Sem. Capybara: capybara.
• Sem. Chinchillas: chinchilla, viscacha.
• Sem. Nutria: nutria.

The evolutionary path of rodents

The fossilized remains of ancient rodents, most of which were found on the territory of North America and Eurasia, were very small and outwardly resembled modern mice. Only a few species were slightly more developed than most and reached the size of a beaver.

The first feature that appeared that began to distinguish rodents from other similar animals was the structure of the jaws, or rather, the appearance of characteristic incisors. These animals were quite unpretentious and gradually adapted to different conditions habitats, while the features of the structure, depending on the way of life, began to stand out more and more clearly.

Ancient small rodents moved by running, and then there were species that learned to jump. In parallel, a group of underground rodents became isolated, the structure of the skull, paws and claws of which began to have characteristic features.

One of the most common rodents today - mice and rats - appeared much later. Representatives of the ancient species of these animals were present in the European layers of the Pliocene.

The resettlement of the representatives of the detachment is mainly associated with humans, because the rodents were "stowaways" on ships on sea voyages, and later traveled with camel caravans in the desert, and trains along railways. They live next to man to this day. They feel very comfortable in homes and livestock farms, in grain warehouses and in pantries with provisions.

Rodents: names of genera of the main pests

Rats are members of the genus rattus, with 63 species. These animals are scattered all over the world. But 2 types of rats are particularly damaging to humanity, damaging crops, destroying food and being carriers of disease. We are talking about black and which is often called pasyuk. Both those and others are bright representatives of freeloaders of a person. In terms of lifestyle, some differences between representatives of these species can be identified. Black is a more "capricious" rat. The rodent loves warmth and lives, as a rule, in human habitation, while the pasyuk feels quite comfortable outside of housing, plowing the expanses of villages and villages. The black rat gained its ubiquity by traveling on ships. In Britain, it was these rodents that became carriers of the plague that claimed millions human lives. China is considered the birthplace of Pasyuk, from which in the first half of the 18th century. the rodent came to Europe, pushing back the black rat. Both species are very dangerous rodents. They can be carriers of plague, typhoid, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis.

Mice are relatively small rodents. Species with this name are found in several families at once. The most typical representatives of the temperate climate zone are the baby mouse and wood mouse; African continent - grass mouse and striped Australia - Asian tree mouse and prickly rice hamster. But the most famous is still the house mouse, despite its small size, which poses a serious threat to human health. Other mice affect the economic situation of countries, damaging crops of agricultural plants and food stocks. This problem is especially acute in the tropics. Almost all mice are omnivores, but they prefer plant foods and only occasionally eat insects. Mice are among the most small mammals. A striking example is the dwarf hamster, whose weight is no more than 10 g.

Voles are close relatives of hamsters, rats and mice. Voles and lemmings are part of a characteristic subfamily whose representatives inhabit the cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere. In external structure There is characteristics: short tail and rounded nose. The largest animal of the 99 species of this genus is the American musk rat, which is also called the muskrat. These mammalian rodents have adapted to life in the water, acquiring special characteristics in the course of evolution. morphological features. Being mostly herbivorous, voles become a threat to agriculture and Food Industry. Many mammals and birds of prey feed on these rodents, which indicates their ecological importance.

• Rodents have spread so widely on the planet that they have invaded all continents with the exception of Antarctica.
• The largest rodent lived in South America 4 million years ago. The weight of individuals could reach 1 ton. To date, the most major representative troop is the capybara.
• One Malayan porcupine was in the Guinness Book of Records, having lived 27 years and 4 months.
• Japanese geneticists have developed a species of mutant rodent. Distinctive feature laboratory mutant is that he is able to chirp like a sparrow.
• The image of a chipmunk is on the emblems of two cities of the Sverdlovsk region - Volchansk and Krasnoturinsk.
• In the Chinese calendar there is, and in the Zoroastrian one, the year of the Beaver and the year of the Squirrel.
• The most popular rodents are the team of cartoon rescuers from the work of Walt Disney: chipmunks Chip and Dale, Rocky the rat and Gadget the mouse. Also widely known are rodents with funny voices from the comedy film Alvin and the Chipmunks.
• Professor Jenny Morton of the University of Cambridge has done research on the effects of methamphetamine on mammals. The experiments were carried out on mice. It was accidentally found that loud music enhanced the toxic properties of the drug. Of the group of 40 individuals who listened to Bach, only 4 died during or immediately after the experiment. But out of 40 mice that listened to the music of The Prodigy, 7 died immediately on the spot. The point, of course, is not at all that individuals aesthetically distinguish what they heard, but in the action of rhythmic pulsating noise, which provoked an increase in the toxic effect.
• Smart rats are alcoholics. This feature really sets this species apart. Rodents that are more successful in navigating the maze cannot resist a shot. Such an unusual conclusion was made by professors at Concordia University of Montreal. Those individuals who were well oriented in the maze quickly realized the connection between alcohol and the feeling of euphoria that it causes. This is indicated by the fact that they, smelling the smell of alcohol, began to lap it. But the less intelligent rats did not catch this connection and did not even approach the glass, frightened by the unpleasant smell of alcohol.
• With the help of a virus that originated from HIV, scientists from California Institute of Technology carried out amusing experiments, passing on to animals some genes with certain properties from other creatures. In particular, such an impressive experiment was carried out: a jellyfish gene was introduced into a single-celled mouse embryo, which causes its glow. Surprisingly, but mice with a foreign gene were born with glowing green fluorescent light organs. Luminosity developed into a stable property of these mice, and further offspring also had this feature.

Domestic rodents

Children often dream of pet. But only a few have the patience, strength and time to care. The most unpretentious in this regard can be called domestic rodents. Care for these funny animals is minimal. The content does not require special conditions, and their cost is quite affordable.

As the first pet for small child you need to choose just rodents. After all, the baby can feed the funny little animal himself, and take part in cleaning the cage.

Pet stores offer a great variety of pets such as rodents. The list of the most common ones is given below.

A huge number of hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs, gerbils, chinchillas, decorative rabbits, chipmunks, ferrets and even squirrels are sold in stores. The most “comfortable” are, of course, hamsters, which are distinguished by a calm and complaisant character. In addition, they are very easy to tame. Squirrels, chinchillas, rabbits and ferrets need more space and are more difficult to care for.

Rats in New York

Despite the fact that mammals are the most evolutionarily developed class, rodents (like rats) are a by-product of civilization. They developed together with us, and the larger the human settlement, the more beautiful rodents feel among people. Perhaps that is why the rats have chosen New York as the world capital.

According to approximate data, in this city the number of rats is eight times greater than the number of people. Whatever ways the city authorities came up with to deal with rodents, these mammalian rodents still found a way to survive.

Unwanted neighbors grow larger, stronger, and more prolific over the years. It is also interesting that urban rats are much more cunning than rural ones. They have learned to understand many things. For example, if one of the individuals died after swallowing the bait, her relatives would never eat it. They have studied underground communications and are able to move around the city along certain routes.

Rats have lived side by side with humans for centuries, multiplying at lightning speed. A rat at the age of 8 weeks is still asexual. And a year later, she is able to produce 50 offspring annually. They, like circus performers, can slip through a narrow hole, climb perfectly on a vertical surface and swim. They have an excellent sense of smell and touch, are able to make jumps several meters long and move in social formations.

It has recently been found that many cats have stopped attacking rats. Now they peacefully coexist with them, eating together and coexisting side by side. The reason for this is the equation of forces, which in the process of evolution in rats have increased significantly.

Even New Yorkers themselves have stopped paying attention to rats, they now complement the city's look. Rodents have ceased to hide, they imposingly walk along the edges of the sidewalks, generously leaving their central part to people.

Yes, rat bites are no longer carried mortal danger but still harmful to health. Children are very often victims of their bites. More than a hundred people bitten by rats are admitted to New York clinics every year.

The characterization of rodents only as pests is still not entirely correct. Indeed, among them there are malicious pests that deserve to be exterminated in every possible way. But there are also such species, without which there would be a catastrophic imbalance in the vital activity of many ecological systems. And many mouse-like rodents play the role of experimental animals in laboratories.

Thus, rodents, whose names are so diverse, and the number is so large, are very different in their meaning, bringing both catastrophic harm and enormous benefits to the life of man and the planet.