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Order Rodentia Family Muridae. Diastema 1 pair incisors Ears shorter than tail Eyes, ears visible Tail naked; annulations visible Tail not longer than head and body Dorsal, ventral pelage nearly same color. Rattus norvegicus. Mus musculus.
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Order RodentiaFamily Muridae • Diastema • 1 pair incisors • Ears shorter than tail • Eyes, ears visible • Tail naked; annulations visible • Tail not longer than head and body • Dorsal, ventral pelage nearly same color Rattus norvegicus
Mus musculus Identification: Mouselike size; gray-brown dorsum and slightly lighter venter; naked tail; few hairs on ears (TL 130-200mm) Distribution: Statewide Habitat: Vicinity of humans; occasionally fields, other disturbed habitats
Mus musculus Diet: Omnivorous Reproduction: Multiple litters of 3-10 each year Conservation: Introduced; common
Mus musculus Other: Introduced by early immigrants from Eurasia; carries some human diseases (typhus, rickettsialpox)
Rattus norvegicus Identification: Ratlike size; brown dorsum and slightly lighter venter; naked tail; little hair on ears; abdomen swollen anterior to tail (TL 315-460mm) Distribution: Statewide
Rattus norvegicus Habitat: Almost exclusively near human habitations; confined to 1st floor and basement in buildings Diet: Grain, food scraps, chicken eggs, chicks Reproduction: Up to 12 litters of as many as 12 young annually Conservation: Introduced; common
Rattus norvegicus Other: Introduced in 1700s; damages food stores; historically significant as vector of bacterium causing bubonic plague http://www.insecta-inspecta.com http://www.columbia.edu
Order RodentiaFamily Zapodidae • Diastema • 1 pair incisors • Ears shorter than tail • Eyes, ears visible • Tail furred • Tail much longer than head and body • Hind feet elongate Zapus hudsonius
Zapus hudsonius Identification: Pelage coarse with dark brown dorsal band; yellowish flanks; venter white; bicolored tail Distribution: Statewide Habitat: Moist grassland, weedy habitats
Zapus hudsonius Diet: Seeds, fruits, fungus, invertebrates Reproduction: 2 litters of 2-8 annually Conservation: Common Other: Hops only when scared or pursued