Fortune telling 

Order rodents habitat. Order Rodents: classification, characteristics, nutrition, behavior, reproduction and significance. General characteristics of mouse representatives

RODENTS (Rodentia), order of the class Mammals. Fossil remains have been known since the Paleocene. Small and average size animals; body length from 5 (mouserfish) to 130 (capybara) cm; weight from 6 g to 50 kg. Externally, rodents are very diverse; Among them there are various life forms: underground (diggers, gophers, zokor, mole rats), arboreal (squirrels, flying squirrels), aquatic (beavers, nutria, muskrats), adapted to fast running (jerboas, maras, agoutis). The hair of rodents is represented by soft, uniform fur (blind rats, zokor), fur, well divided into guard hairs and underfur (beavers, nutria), quills (porcupines) or completely absent ( naked mole rats). The forelimbs are 5-4-toed, the hind limbs are 5-3-toed. What is common to the order is the structure of the dental system. All rodents have highly developed incisors (1 pair in each jaw), which do not have roots and grow throughout the life of the animal; their cutting edge self-sharpens when worn (due to the different hardness of enamel and dentin). In some rodents ( gray voles) constant growth is also characteristic of molars. There are no fangs, resulting in a large gap (diastema) between the incisors and cheek teeth - premolars or molars. The brain is relatively large, the surface of the hemispheres is smooth.

Rodents are the largest (about 355 genera, more than 1,600 species) and diverse order of mammals. It contains 30-35 modern families, 3 of which are the most numerous and include up to 2/3 modern species: squirrels (about 40 genera and 230 species), hamsters (6-8 subfamilies, up to 100 genera, about 500 species) and mice (up to 17 subfamilies, about 120 genera, more than 400 species). A number of families consist of a single genus of the same name with 1-2 species (beavers, longlegs, capybaras, pacarnaceae).

Rodents are distributed everywhere except Antarctica; inhabit all natural zones - from the tundra to the desert, from lowland swamps to the highlands. The sharp incisors of rodents are used not only for gnawing solid food, but also for digging. Most rodents are active around the clock; There are species that are active only at night or only during daylight hours. A number of species hibernate for varying durations, accompanied by a decrease in metabolic rate and body temperature (marmots, ground squirrels, dormouse, etc.). The shelters of rodents are very diverse: deep, complex burrows (viscachas, mole rats, tukotuks), above-ground nests, on the ground or in soil voids (black rat, house mice, mouse mice), huts with an underwater entrance made of branches (beavers) or grass (muskrats) , hanging nests made of grass (baby mouse) or in trees (squirrels). Rodents feed on plant foods (seeds, fruits, juicy green parts of plants, bark and wood), many include small vertebrates and invertebrates in their diet, some are exclusively insectivorous (grasshopper hamsters), piscivorous (fish-eating hamsters) or carnivorous (a number of species of large rats) . They can lead a solitary or colonial lifestyle, including with division of functions, like social insects (naked mole rats).

In all natural areas, rodents predominate among mammals. As a rule, rodents are highly fertile: several litters per year (usually 2-4), up to 8-15 cubs each. Many people tend to have early puberty(at 2-3 months of life). The number of small rodents (mice, voles) may vary individual years increase by a factor of 100 or more, often giving way to years of almost complete extinction over large areas.

Great everywhere ecological role rodents For example, in the tundra, changes in lemming numbers largely determine the dynamics of the entire ecosystem; in deserts, the burrowing activity of rodents supports the existence of many animals, promotes soil mixing, determines the moisture regime and species composition vegetation; By creating dams and swamping vast areas, beavers form a specific landscape.

Some rodents (including chinchilla, beaver, nutria, muskrat) are valuable objects of the fur trade. Many rodents (wood voles, lemmings, gray voles, etc.) serve as the main food for valuable fur-bearing predators (arctic fox, sable, marten, etc.). Among rodents there are species that cause great damage crop production, agriculture and forestry, as well as reserves food products(rats, mice, ground squirrels, hamsters). Many species of rodents are distributors infectious diseases humans (including plague, tularemia, rickettsiosis, leptospirosis, leishmaniasis, tick-borne encephalitis, hemorrhagic fevers, etc.). Gray and black rats and house mice have spread throughout the world along with humans, forming populations that are entirely dependent on human activity. Some rodents can cause significant damage to various technical devices and structures.

Among rodents there are species with a small range, adapted to unique regional ecosystems (viscacha, Patagonian mara, pacarna). Many species of rodents have become rare or have a steady downward trend in numbers. About 700 species of rodents are listed in the IUCN Red Book, 7 species are in the Red Book Russian Federation. There are examples of successful population restoration (beavers).

Lit.: Sokolov V. E. Systematics of mammals. M., 1977. Part 2: Orders: lagomorphs, rodents; Gromov I.M., Erbaeva M.A. Lagomorphs and rodents. St. Petersburg, 1995.

Capybaras

The order Rodents has a varied range of body sizes. One of the smallest rodents is the marsh hamster ( Delanymys brooksi), common in swamps and mountain forests. It weighs from 5 to 7 grams and has a length of 5 to 6 cm. The largest rodent is the capybara ( Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from Central and, which weighs from 35 to 66 kg and has a height at the withers from 50 to 60 cm, and a body length from 100 to 135 cm. Some extinct species were even larger, reaching the size of a small rhinoceros. The largest rodent ( Josephoartigasia monesi), lived about two to four million years ago, in the era of and; According to some estimates, it was about 3 meters long and weighed almost 1000 kg.

Description

Common flying squirrel

All rodents have continuously growing rootless incisors with a hard enamel layer at the front of each tooth and softer dentin. Gnawing on hard food constantly wears down the incisors. The absence of canines in rodents results in a gap or diastema between the incisors and molars. They have 12 to 22 teeth

The structure of the jaw ensures that the incisors, upper and lower premolars, and molars do not meet while the animal chews. Powerful muscles attached to the jaw and skull provide the force for chewing and gnawing.

The body shape of tree squirrels may be a model for the earliest and now extinct rodents of the genus Paramys. With their ability to grip bark with their claws, squirrels are adept at climbing tree trunks, running along branches, and jumping onto nearby trees; but they are equally agile on land, and some are able swimmers.

The specialized body shapes of other rodent species tie them to certain ones. Some strictly arboreal species have a prehensile tail; others glide from tree to tree using lethal leathery membranes located between the fore and hind limbs (for example,). Highly specialized burrowing rodents, including mole rats, mole rats and ground squirrels, have a cylindrical body shape, strong incisors, small eyes and ears, and large forelimbs with powerful digging claws.

Semi-aquatic rodents, such as muskrats, nutria and water rats, have special features, which allow them to feed in aquatic environments, but at the same time live in earthen burrows. Terrestrial jumping species such as kangaroo jumpers, jerboas and gerbils have short forelimbs that are elongated and powerful. hind limbs, And a long tail, used for balance.

Regardless of body shape, all rodents have the same adaptations that can be used for different purposes: cutting grass, opening nuts, killing their prey, digging tunnels, felling trees, etc.

Basic characteristics of rodents

The main characteristics of rodents include:

  • one pair of incisors on each jaw (upper and lower);
  • incisors grow continuously;
  • incisors have no enamel on the back of the tooth (and wear down with use);
  • large gap (diastema) behind the incisors;
  • no fangs;
  • complex masticatory muscles;
  • there is a fully developed baculum.

Nutrition

Rodents eat a variety of foods, including leaves, fruits, seeds and small animals. Cellulose food is digested in the cecum (a pouch in digestive tract, which contains substances capable of breaking down solid plant material into a digestible form). Food is either eaten where it is collected, or it is brought into burrows for storage (for example, gopher rats, Gambian rats, hamsters, etc.). Species living in arid habitats and on water can obtain the necessary fluid from their food.

Behavior and reproduction

Some rodents are capable of constructing a wide variety of houses; These range from holes in trees and rocks, simple burrows in nests, structures made of leaves and sticks in treetops, to complex underground tunnels, and the construction of dams on rivers and streams.

Rodents can be diurnal or night look life, or sometimes they are active part of the day and night. Representatives of this order can be active throughout the year, but some species experience periods of rest or deep winter hibernation.

The timing and frequency of reproduction, length of gestation, and litter size vary greatly from species to species. Eg, gray rat (Rattus norvegicus) can give birth to up to 22 young at a time, and house mouse (Mus musculus ) can produce up to 14 litters annually. Population sizes can remain stable or fluctuate, and some species, especially lemmings, migrate when populations become excessively large.

The meaning of rodents

Wherever rodents are found, people often treat them as pests, but they play important role in which they live.

Biologists have long known that rodents tropical forests play a key role in stimulating the growth of new trees in the forest by dispersing seeds.

Many rodents dig extensive burrows and tunnels, which not only provide habitat for many other animal species, but also provide important advantages for soil. Digging tunnels turns over the soil, mixing the top layers of litter and feces with the deeper layers. This process fertilizes the soil and stores carbon needed for plant growth. Tunnels allow water to enter the soil rather than run off.

Plants in forests have mutually beneficial relationship s in the soil. Fungi provide nutrients to plants, while plants provide energy for fungi to grow and reproduce. The seeds of some plants, such as orchids, will not even germinate without being attached to the fungus. Rodents such as common squirrels and voles can spread their spores. Underground fungi rely almost entirely on rodents to disperse spores and reproduce. When rodents eat mushrooms, they distribute their spores in their feces, helping to create a generation of healthy forests.

There are more than 2 thousand species of rodents, which is about 1/3 of all mammal species. Rodents are widespread and play an important role in food chains ecosystems. These include mice, rats, voles, squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, beavers, muskrats, porcupines, etc. These are mainly small herbivorous animals. The largest representative of rodents is the capybara (about a meter), and the smallest are mice and mice (several centimeters).

The mouse and capybara are one of the smallest and largest representatives of rodents

Distinctive feature, classifying an animal to a given order is special structure dental system. All rodents have pairs of highly developed upper and lower incisors, flanked by diastemas (empty spaces), followed by flat molars. There are no fangs.

The incisors do not have roots and grow throughout their lives, gradually being worn down when biting off food. The incisors always remain sharp, since their front side is covered with hard enamel, but the back side is not (there is only dentin) and is worn down more.

Due to the fact that rodents are predominantly herbivorous, they have a highly developed cecum and long intestine. In the cecum, indigestible food is processed through fermentation.

Another feature of rodents is their high fertility. It is achieved both by a large number of cubs in the litter and by a high frequency of births (in mice up to 7 times a year and up to 10 cubs per litter). The offspring appears blind and naked, so the rodents make nests.

Among rodents there are both burrowing and jumping animals. Therefore, the limbs of different species of the order may differ. Although more often the hind legs are longer than the front ones. The presence of a tail and its length also vary. So the jerboas have it longer than body, while in guinea pigs it is completely absent.


In addition to plant food, some representatives of the order eat arthropods and even other vertebrates, bird eggs.

Squad Rodents

The squad unites different types squirrels, beavers, mice, voles, rats and many others. They are distinguished by a number of features. One of them is the peculiar structure of teeth, adapted to feeding on solid plant foods (branches of trees and shrubs, seeds, herbaceous plants). All rodents, unlike lagomorphs, have one pair of incisors in the upper jaw. They are rootless and grow continuously throughout the animal's life. In addition, they grind unevenly and have the appearance of a chisel, since their front side is covered with harder and denser enamel than the back. Molars have a wide surface and are adapted for grinding plant foods.

Most rodents are highly fertile: they bear numerous offspring several times throughout the year.

Rodents are widespread on our planet and very diverse; there are about 2 thousand species of these animals.

Common squirrel

Common squirrel- a small animal with a somewhat elongated body and a long fluffy tail. She lives mainly in old conifers and mixed forests, in trees, can climb a trunk, deftly jump from branch to branch, from one tree to another. Movement through trees is facilitated by such structural features as strong hind legs, sharp claws on the toes, and a long fluffy tail, which acts as a parachute when jumping. In summer the squirrel is red, and in winter it is light gray, the color change has protective value. Summer color makes it unnoticeable on trunks coniferous trees, and the winter one hides the animal against the background of snow.

The squirrel lives in hollows or makes spherical nests made of twigs and moss with a side entrance in trees, at a height of 2 to 6 m. In summer, squirrels are born in them (from 3 to 10), which after two months become independent.

In summer, the squirrel feeds on seeds of coniferous trees, mushrooms, insects, and can attack small birds and their chicks. For the winter, the squirrel collects large supplies of food, as it does not hibernate. IN very coldy she climbs into a hollow or nest and sleeps there all day long, curled up in a ball.

The squirrel is of great commercial importance; the winter fur of the Siberian squirrel is especially valued.

Beaver- one of the largest rodents (body length reaches 80 cm). It is adapted to life not only on land, but also in aquatic environment. On land it seems clumsy, but in water it moves superbly thanks to its streamlined body shape. When immersed in water, the beaver's auditory openings and nostrils close, and the lips close behind the incisors. The tail is wide and flat, covered with scales, and acts as a rudder when moving in water. Swimming is also aided by the hind limbs, the toes of which are connected by a swimming membrane. Fur with a thick undercoat that does not allow water to pass through.

Beavers live along the banks of rivers and lakes with thickets of aspen, willow, and birch. They dig holes on steep banks with an exit under water, and on low, marshy banks they build huts from thick branches, twigs and earth, which are well cemented with silt, durable and also have an exit under water. To maintain the water level in the river, dams are built from sticks and branches held together with silt and earth. In summer, beavers feed on succulent parts of aquatic plants; in autumn and winter they eat young bark and shoots of various deciduous trees. Beavers breed once every warm time of the year. The cubs are born sighted, covered with thick dark brown hair, swim well, but cannot dive. The beaver has many enemies; wolves, wolverines, lynxes and foxes are especially dangerous for it.

The beaver was once a valuable game animal; its beautiful fur has long been valued. Currently, beaver hunting is prohibited everywhere.

Wood mouse

Rodents also include the gray rat, mice, voles, etc. In the European part of our country, in Central Asia and Western Siberia lives small animal - wood mouse In appearance it is similar to a field mouse, but somewhat larger, it has a different color: its back is red, its belly is white, and there is a yellow spot on its chest between its front legs.

The wood mouse lives in mixed and deciduous forests, in places with well-developed undergrowth and an abundance of dead wood. Active at night, during the day it is found in burrows under tree roots or in hollows.

It feeds mainly on seeds of deciduous trees, hazelnuts, berries and even insects, and eats tree seedlings. Forest mice considered pests forestry, since they are destroyed in large quantities tree seeds, preventing their regeneration.

Bank vole

In the forest and forest-steppe zones lives in our country bank vole.

It is also small, but unlike the mouse, it has a less blunt muzzle, a short tail, covered with short, sparse hair.

The color of the fur is dominated by red tones.

In winter, the vole lives in haystacks or in buildings, in summer - under the roots of uprooted stumps, hollows, and piles of brushwood. Here she makes nests with branched passages. The vole feeds mainly on green parts of plants, seeds, berries, and mushrooms. Many people feed on it beasts of prey and birds. In the years mass reproduction the vole destroys a huge number of seeds forest trees, as well as stocks of vegetables in warehouses. Therefore, it is considered a pest of forestry and agriculture.

Gray rat

Most major representative mouse-like rodents - gray rat. It is widespread throughout our country and lives in a wide variety of conditions, in residential and commercial buildings, in basements, on barnyards. In summer it is often found in vegetable gardens, wastelands and fields. The rat is very dexterous, agile and fearless. At the same time, she is very careful and skillfully avoids various obstacles.

Gray rats are omnivorous rodents, as they feed on small animals, such as voles, small birds, and eat human food supplies, carrion, grain, etc. They are agricultural pests and carriers of many diseases.

Jerboas

Very peculiar rodents live in the steppes, semi-deserts and deserts - jerboas. They have short front and very long hind legs, a tail with a flat tuft of hair at the end. Jerboas move by jumping, with the tail serving as both a rudder and a support (see textbook illustration, p. 231).

Jerboas are nocturnal, live in burrows, and hibernate during the winter. They feed on seeds, leaves, stems of cereals, tubers and bulbs of wild plants. In turn, they are prey for desert predatory animals, birds, and reptiles.

Porcupine

Porcupine- the largest rodent, body length from 60 to 90 cm, and weight about 27 kg. He has small eyes and ears. The front part of the body is covered with bristles, and the back with needles. The tail is covered with short spines (see textbook illustration, p. 231).

The porcupine is distributed in the south of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, living in desert foothills and hilly areas. Spends the day in a hole or cave, and at night leads an active lifestyle. It feeds on plants: green parts, roots, bulbs and tubers, fruits and seeds of trees and shrubs. Causes damage in places agriculture, eating potatoes, corn and melons.

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

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

Appearance of the rat, description and characteristics

The body of the rat is oval-shaped 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 rat's body, hairless or covered with fine hair? invisible to the human eye (a type of black rat has a tail with a thick coat of fur). There is a species of short-tailed rodents in the world.

A rat's teeth are arranged tightly together in rows and are designed for chewing food. These animals are omnivores; they differ from other predators in the absence of fangs and diastema - this is an area on the gums where there are no teeth.

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

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

The rodent's body is covered with a thick, dense coat of guard hairs. The color range 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 habitat.

Rats are very active and agile animals, running 17 km a day and jumping up to 1 meter in height. They swim well, are not afraid of water and can catch fish.

Rats often turn their heads in different directions because they have a small visual angle, the world see in shades of grey.

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

Life expectancy is from 1 year to 3 years. In laboratory conditions, rats can live 2 times longer.

Difference between rats and mice

Rats and mice are representatives of the same suborder, but they are significantly different 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 large eyes, in rats the muzzle is elongated with small eyes.

A strong body and powerful toes allow rats to jump high up to 1 meter; mice cannot do such tricks.

Mice are cowardly animals and are afraid to appear in front of people, but this does not bother rats; they can defend themselves. There are many cases where they attacked a person.

Rats are omnivores, eating meat and plant foods. On the contrary, mice have a greater preference for cereals and seeds.

Habitat of rats and lifestyle

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

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

The diet depends on the habitat. Omnivorous rats eat approximately 25 grams of food per day, but without water it is difficult for them daily norm moisture up to 35 ml.

Gray rats mainly eat protein foods of animal origin, small rodents, toads, chicks.

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

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

Reproduction and lifespan of rats

Rats do not have a mating season; they can breed year-round. But the peak of sexual activity comes in spring and summer. The female mates with different males, pregnancy in rats lasts up to 24 days, and a lactating female carries the cubs for up to 34 days.

Rats prepare nests in advance and cover the bottom with soft grass, cloth, and paper for the birth of offspring. The cubs emerge naked and blind. At birth of the dead baby 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, provides meticulous care, feeds milk, licks the babies and removes debris from the nest.

After 17 days, the little rats open their eyes, and a month later they lead a full life on their own. Puberty begins after 3-4 months, and they can reproduce 6 months after birth. Life expectancy is up to two years.

Gray rats breed up to 8 times a year, but black rats breed only in the warm season. Today, experts estimate that there are 2 rats per person in the world.

Why are rats dangerous?

Rats are a disaster for all humanity. They gnaw through the walls in the basements of houses, sewer pipes, harm electrical lines and 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 using chemicals because the animal’s body quickly adapts to the poison and develops protective immunity to toxins.

Rats are a pet

Rats are ideal pets. They quickly become tamed to humans and recognize their owner by the face.

Neat and clean animals do not require special care. They will give their owner many funny moments; they are very interesting to watch.

But don't forget the owner pet rat that this is a social animal and it is difficult for it to live alone. The rat definitely needs a mate, otherwise a mental disorder may develop.

Type of rat, name and photo

There are about 70 species of rats in the world, most of of which are little studied, below are common species of rodents with brief description and a photo of a rat.

The gray rat (pasyuk) is one of the larger species, 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 gray coat of young animals becomes orange with age. It lives near water, in dense vegetation and digs holes up to 5 meters.

The black rat is smaller in size 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 between this species of rodent 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 can live without water, so it lives in dry places. The wool is black with a green tint.

The small rat differs from its fellows 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 any signs of fur. Lives in Southeast Asia.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interesting and educational facts about the life of rats

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

In some American states Hitting a rat with a baseball bat is prohibited and will result in 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.

A gray rat eats up to 12 kg of various cereal products per year. Experts have calculated that every year about 6 kg of one farmer’s harvest is spent on feeding one rat.