The Old World rats and mice, part of the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Murinae in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Muridae The Muridae, or murids, are the largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 1,383 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia. The name Muridae come ...

, comprise at least 519 species. Members of this subfamily are called murines. In terms of species richness, this subfamily is larger than all

mammal Mammals () are a group of vertebrate animals constituting the class Mammalia (), characterized by the presence of mammary glands which in females produce milk for feeding (nursing) their young, a neocortex (a region of the brain), fur or ...

families except the

Cricetidae The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice. At almost 608 species, it is the second-largest family of mammals, and has m ...

and

, and is larger than all

order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...

s except the

bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most bi ...

s and the remainder of the

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...

Description

The Murinae are native to

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

, and

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. They are

terrestrial Terrestrial refers to things related to land or the planet Earth. Terrestrial may also refer to: * Terrestrial animal, an animal that lives on land opposed to living in water, or sometimes an animal that lives on or near the ground, as opposed to ...

placental Placental mammals (infraclass Placentalia ) are one of the three extant subdivisions of the class Mammalia, the other two being Monotremata and Marsupial Marsupials are any members of the mammalian infraclass Marsupialia. All extant marsup ...

s. They have also been introduced to all continents except

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest contine ...

, and are serious pest animals. This is particularly true in island communities where they have contributed to the

endangerment Endangerment is a type of crime involving conduct that is wrongful and reckless or wanton, and likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm to another person. There are several kinds of endangerment, each of which is a criminal act that can b ...

and

extinct Extinction is the termination of a kind of organism or of a group of kinds (taxon), usually a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and ...

ion of many native animals. Two prominent murine species have become vital

laboratory animal Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and ''in vivo'' testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments that seek to control the variables that affect the behavior or biological system under study. This ...

s: the

brown rat The brown rat (''Rattus norvegicus''), also known as the common rat, street rat, sewer rat, wharf rat, Hanover rat, Norway rat, Norwegian rat and Parisian rat, is a widespread species of common rat. One of the largest muroids, it is a brown o ...

and

house mouse The house mouse (''Mus musculus'') is a small mammal of the order Rodentia, characteristically having a pointed snout, large rounded ears, and a long and almost hairless tail. It is one of the most abundant species of the genus '' Mus''. Althoug ...

are both used as medical subjects. The murines have a distinctive molar pattern that involves three rows of cusps instead of two, the primitive pattern seen most frequently in

muroid rodent The Muroidea are a large superfamily of rodents, including mice, rats, voles, hamsters, lemmings, gerbils, and many other relatives. Although the Muroidea originated in Eurasia, they occupy a vast variety of habitats on every continent except ...

Fossils

The first known appearance of the Murinae in the

fossil A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved ...

record is about 14 million years ago with the fossil genus '' Antemus''. ''Antemus'' is thought to derive directly from '' Potwarmus'', which has a more primitive tooth pattern. Likewise, two genera, '' Progonomys'' and '' Karnimata'', are thought to derive directly from ''Antemus''. ''Progonomys'' is thought to be the ancestor of ''

Mus Mus or MUS may refer to: Abbreviations * MUS, the NATO country code for Mauritius * MUS, the IATA airport code for Minami Torishima Airport * MUS, abbreviation for the Centre for Modern Urban Studies on Campus The Hague, Leiden University, Neth ...

'' and relatives, while ''Karnimata'' was previously thought to lead to ''

Rattus ''Rattus'' is a genus of muroid rodents, all typically called rats. However, the term rat can also be applied to rodent species outside of this genus. Species and description The best-known ''Rattus'' species are the black rat (''R. rattus'') ...

'' and relatives, although it is now thought to be a member of the extant tribe

Praomyini Praomyini is a tribe of muroid rodents in the subfamily Murinae. Species in this tribe are found mostly throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, but one species (''Mastomys erythroleucus'') is found in North Africa, and another ('' Ochromyscus yemeni'') is ...

. All of these fossils are found in the well-preserved and easily dated

Siwalik The Sivalik Hills, also known as the Shivalik Hills and Churia Hills, are a mountain range of the outer Himalayas that stretches over about from the Indus River eastwards close to the Brahmaputra River, spanning the northern parts of the Indian ...

fossil beds of

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...

. The transition from ''Potwarmus'' to ''Antemus'' to ''Progonomys'' and ''Karnimata'' is considered an excellent example of anagenic evolution.

Taxonomy

Most of the Murinae have been poorly studied. Some genera have been grouped, such as the hydromyine water rats, conilurine or pseudomyine Australian mice, or the phloeomyine

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...

n forms. It appears as if genera from Southeast Asian islands and Australia may be early offshoots compared to mainland forms. The

vlei rat African vlei rats (''Otomys''), also known as groove-toothed rats, live in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Most species live in marshlands, grasslands, and similar habitats and feed on the vegetation of such areas, occasionally supplementing ...

s in the genera ''

Otomys African vlei rats (''Otomys''), also known as groove-toothed rats, live in many areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Most species live in marshlands, grasslands, and similar habitats and feed on the vegetation of such areas, occasionally supplementing ...

'' and ''

Parotomys ''Parotomys'' is a small genus of rodent in the family Muridae. Member species are found in the African countries of Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, ...

'' are often placed in a separate subfamily, Otomyinae, but have been shown to be closely related to African murines in spite of their uniqueness. Three genera, ''

Uranomys Rudd's mouse or the white-bellied brush-furred rat (''Uranomys ruddi'') is the only member of the genus ''Uranomys''. This animal is closely related to the spiny mice, brush-furred mice, and the link rat. Description Head and body sizes ran ...

'', '' Lophuromys'', and '' Acomys'', were once considered to be murines, but were found to be more closely related to

gerbil The Mongolian gerbil or Mongolian jird (''Meriones unguiculatus'') is a small rodent belonging to the subfamily Gerbillinae. Their body size is typically , with a tail, and body weight , with adult males larger than females. The animal is use ...

s through

molecular phylogenetics Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

. They have been assigned a new subfamily status,

Deomyinae The subfamily Deomyinae consists of four genera of mouse-like rodents that were placed in the subfamilies Murinae and Dendromurinae until very recently. They are sometimes called the Acomyinae, particularly in references that antedate the disc ...

. Molecular phylogenetic studies of Murinae include Lecompte, et al. (2008), which analyzes African murine species based on the mitochondrial

cytochrome b Cytochrome b within both molecular and cell biology, is a protein found in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells. It functions as part of the electron transport chain and is the main subunit of transmembrane cytochrome bc1 and b6f complexes. F ...

gene and two nuclear gene fragments. Lecompte, et al. (2008) estimates that African murines colonized Africa from Asia approximately 11 million years ago during the

Miocene The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...

. The following

phylogeny A phylogenetic tree (also phylogeny or evolutionary tree Felsenstein J. (2004). ''Inferring Phylogenies'' Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.) is a branching diagram or a tree showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological spec ...

of 16 Murinae

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...

, based on

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

analysis of the Interphotoreceptor Retinoid Binding Protein (IRBP) gene, is from Jansa & Weksler (2004: 264).

Distribution

The following is a list of Murinae genus divisions ordered by the continents that they are endemic to. Most of the diversity is located in

and

Australasia Australasia is a region that comprises Australia, New Zealand and some neighbouring islands in the Pacific Ocean. The term is used in a number of different contexts, including geopolitically, physiogeographically, philologically, and ecologica ...

. *

**Aethomys division – 1 genus **Arvicanthis division – 6 genera **Colomys division – 3 genera **Dasymys division – 8 genera **Hybomys division – 3 genera **Malacomys division – 1 genus **Oenomys division – 5 genea **

Otomyini Otomyini is an Old World tribe of muroid rodents in the subfamily Murinae. Musser and Carleton (2005) granted it subfamily status (Otomyinae), but molecular studies consistently show that the otomyines evolved from within the Murinae, leading the ...

division/tribe – 3 genera ** Stenocephalomys *

Eurasia Eurasia (, ) is the largest continental area on Earth, comprising all of Europe and Asia. Primarily in the Northern and Eastern Hemispheres, it spans from the British Isles and the Iberian Peninsula in the west to the Japanese archipelago a ...

**Apodemus division – 2 genera **Micromys division – 6 genera **Genus ''

'' *

South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...

**Golunda division – 1 genus **Millardia division – 4 genera *

**Dacnomys division – 8 genera **Hadromys division – 1 genus **Maxomys division – 1 genus **Pithecheir division – 6 genera **Rattus division – 21 genera *

Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bik, Republika kan Filipinas * ceb, Republika sa Pilipinas * cbk, República de Filipinas * hil, Republ ...

**Chrotomys division – 5 genera **Crunomys division – 2 genera **Phloeomys division – 4 genera **Genus ''

Musseromys ''Musseromys'' is a genus of rodent, in the family Muridae, endemic to the Philippines. Four species are known, all from Luzon Luzon (; ) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Ph ...

'' *

Sulawesi Sulawesi (), also known as Celebes (), is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands, and the world's eleventh-largest island, it is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Mindanao and the Sulu Ar ...

**Crunomys division – 2 genera **Echiothrix division – 1 genus **Melasmothrix division – 2 genera *

Moluccas The Maluku Islands (; Indonesian: ''Kepulauan Maluku'') or the Moluccas () are an archipelago in the east of Indonesia. Tectonically they are located on the Halmahera Plate within the Molucca Sea Collision Zone. Geographically they are located eas ...

**Halmaheramys division – 1 genus *

New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea). It is a simplified version of ...

**Hydromys division – 6 genera **Lorentzimys division – 1 genus **Pogonomys division – 11 genera **Uromys division – 5 genera **Xeromys division – 3 genera **Genus ''

Mirzamys ''Mirzamys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the south ...

'' *

**Pseudomys division – 8 genera

List of species

As of 2005, the Murinae contained 129 genera in 584 species. Musser and Carleton (2005) divided the Murinae into 29 genus divisions. They treated the

Otomyinae Otomyini is an Old World tribe of muroid rodents in the subfamily Murinae. Musser and Carleton (2005) granted it subfamily status (Otomyinae), but molecular studies consistently show that the otomyines evolved from within the Murinae, leading thes ...

as a separate subfamily, but all molecular analyses conducted to date have supported their inclusion in the Murinae as relatives of African genera. In a recent expedition in the Philippines, seven more ''

Apomys ''Apomys'', commonly known as earthworm mice, is a genus of rodent endemic to the Philippines. Mice belonging to this genus are generally called Philippine forest mice and can be found on most islands of the Philippines except in Palawan, the Su ...

'' mice were added and the genus was proposed to split into two subgenera - ''Apomys'' and ''Megapomys'', based on morphological and

DNA sequences. In 2021, a major revision was taken of

. The

tribes The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in part due to conflic ...

are based on the classification by the

American Society of Mammalogists The American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) was founded in 1919. Its primary purpose is to encourage the study of mammals, and professions studying them. There are over 4,500 members of this society, and they are primarily professional scientists ...

. Some of the division placement is based on Pages ''et al''., 2015 and Rowe ''et al''., 2019. SUBFAMILY MURINAE - Old World rats and mice *Tribe

Apodemini Apodemini is a Tribe (biology), tribe of Muroidea, muroid rodents in the subfamily Murinae. It contains two extant genera, one found throughout Eurasia and the other Endemism, endemic to the Ryukyu Islands. Several fossil genera are also known fro ...

**Genus ''

Apodemus ''Apodemus'' is a genus of Muridae (true mice and rats). The name is unrelated to that of the '' Mus'' genus, instead being derived from the Greek ἀπό-δημος (literally ''away from home''). Taxonomy Related to the Ryūkyū spiny rat ...

'' - Old World field mice **Genus ''

Rhagamys ''Rhagamys'' is an extinct genus of rodents in the subfamily Murinae, the Old World mice and rats. The genus was established by the Swiss zoologist Charles Immanuel Forsyth Major to accommodate ''Rhagamys orthodon'', commonly known as Hensel's fi ...

'' † **Genus ''

Tokudaia ''Tokudaia'' is a genus of murine rodent native to Japan. Known as Ryūkyū spiny rats or spinous country-rats, population groups exist on several non-contiguous islands. Despite differences in name and appearance, they are the closest living rel ...

'' - Ryūkyū spiny rats *Tribe

Arvicanthini Arvicanthini is a tribe of muroid rodents in the subfamily Murinae. Almost all recent species in this tribe are or were found in Africa aside from one species, the Indian bush rat (''Golunda ellioti''), which is found in South Asia and Iran. Howev ...

**''

Aethomys ''Aethomys'' is a genus of rodent from Africa.CHIMIMBA, CHRISTIAN T., NICO J. DIPPENAAR, and TERENCE J. ROBINSON.Morphometric and morphological delineation of southern African species of Aethomys (Rodentia: Muridae)" Biological Journal of the Li ...

'' division ***Genus ''

'' - bush rats ***Genus ''

Micaelamys ''Aethomys'' is a genus of rodent from Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent is ...

'' **''

Arvicanthis ''Arvicanthis'' is a genus of rodent from Africa. They are commonly referred to as unstriped grass mice, unstriped grass rats, and kusu rats. Species Genus ''Arvicanthis'' - unstriped grass mice * Abyssinian grass rat, ''Arvicanthis abyssinicus ...

'' division ***Genus ''

'' - unstriped grass mice ***Genus ''

Desmomys ''Desmomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Ethiopia. It contains the following species: *Harrington's rat Harrington's rat (''Desmomys harringtoni'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Et ...

'' ***Genus '' Lemniscomys'' - striped grass mice ***Genus ''

Mylomys ''Mylomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae The Muridae, or murids, are the largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 1,383 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally througho ...

'' (African Groove-toothed Rat) ***Genus ''

Pelomys ''Pelomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Africa. It contains the following species: * Bell groove-toothed swamp rat (''Pelomys campanae'') * Creek groove-toothed swamp rat (''Pelomys fallax'') * Hopkins's groove-toothed s ...

'' - groove-toothed creek rats ***Genus ''

Rhabdomys ''Rhabdomys'' is a largely Southern African genus of muroid rodents slightly larger than house mice. They are known variously as striped or four-striped mice or rats. Traditionally the genus has been seen as a single species, ''Rhabdomys pumilio ...

'' (Four-striped Grass Mouse) **''

Dasymys ''Dasymys'' is a genus of semiaquatic rodents in the subfamily Murinae, the Old World rats and mice. The genus is endemic to Africa.

'' division ***Genus ''

Dasymys ''Dasymys'' is a genus of semiaquatic rodents in the subfamily Murinae, the Old World rats and mice. The genus is endemic to Africa.

'' - shaggy swamp rats **''

Golunda ''Golunda'' is a genus of murine rodent. Fossil record The Indian bush rat ''(Golunda ellioti)'' is the sole surviving member of this genus, but it was formerly more diverse and widespread, occurring in both Asia and Africa. The last surviving s ...

'' division ***Genus ''

'' (Indian bush rat) **''

Hybomys ''Hybomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square mi ...

'' division ***Genus ''

Dephomys ''Dephomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square m ...

'' - defua rats ***Genus ''

'' - hump-nosed mice ***Genus ''

Stochomys The target rat (''Stochomys longicaudatus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the monotypic, only species in the genus ''Stochomys''. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests. Description The targe ...

'' (target rat) ***Genus '' Typomys'' **''

Oenomys ''Oenomys'' is a genus of African rodents. Known as rufous-nosed rats or rusty-nosed rats, they occur from Sierra Leone east to Ethiopia and as far south as northern Angola. The nose is reddish, or at least the cheeks, which suggested both the ...

'' division ***Genus †''

Canariomys ''Canariomys'' is an extinct genus of rodents (Old World rats and mice) that once existed on the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, part of the Canary Islands, Spain. These giant rats could reach a weight of about . They were herbivores; their ...

'' - Canary Islands giant rats ***Genus ''

Grammomys ''Grammomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Africa. It contains the following species: * Arid thicket rat (''Grammomys aridulus'') * Short-snouted thicket rat (''Grammomys brevirostris'') * Bunting's thicket rat (''Gramm ...

'' ***Genus '' Lamottemys'' ***Genus †'' Malpaisomys'' ***Genus ''

'' - rufous-nosed rats ***Genus ''

Thallomys ''Thallomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Africa. It contains four species: * Loring's rat (''Thallomys loringi'') *Black-tailed tree rat (''Thallomys nigricauda'') *Acacia rat (''Thallomys paedulcus'') *Shortridge's r ...

'' - acacia rats ***Genus ''

Thamnomys ''Thamnomys'' is a genus of Old World rats from East Central Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) ...

'' - thicket rats *Tribe Hapalomyini **Genus ''

Hapalomys ''Hapalomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Southeast Asia. It is the only member of the tribe The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldw ...

'' - marmoset rats *Tribe

Hydromyini Hydromyini is a very large, diverse tribe of muroid rodents in the subfamily Murinae. They are the dominant native rodents in Australasia and one of only two native rodent groups there, the other being the ''R. fuscipes'' group of the genus ''Rat ...

**''

Chiropodomys ''Chiropodomys'' (or pencil-tailed tree mice) is a genus of Old World rats and mice native to Southeast Asia and northeast India. They are tree-dwelling, very small mice, mostly found in tropical rainforest. In total six extant species have been ...

'' division (alternately considered a distinct tribe, Chiropodomyini) ***Genus ''

'' - pencil-tailed tree mice **''

Chrotomys The genus ''Chrotomys'' contain a unique group of rodents found only in the Philippines, specifically the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, and Sibuyan. Instead of being predominantly herbivorous or omnivorous like other murines, these rats feed predo ...

'' division ***Genus ''

'' ***Genus ''

Archboldomys ''Archboldomys'', the shrew-mice, are a genus of rodents in the family Muridae. They are carnivores that feed on invertebrates much like shrews do. An apparently smaller relatives of the true shrew-rats ''Chrotomys'' and '' Rhynchomys'', ''Archbo ...

'' (Mount Isarog shrew rats) ***Genus ''

'' - Luzon striped rats ***Genus ''

Soricomys ''Soricomys'', the shrew-mice, are a genus of rodents in the family (biology), family Muridae. They are carnivores that feed on invertebrates much like shrews do. An apparently smaller relatives of the true shrew-rats ''Chrotomys'' and ''Rhynchom ...

'' ***Genus '' Rhynchomys'' - shrew-like rats **''

Conilurus The rabbit rats, genus ''Conilurus'' represent an unusual genus of Old World rats from Australia, New Guinea, and Melville Island. Head and body are 16.5–20 cm. Tail length is 18–21.5 cm. The tail is haired and has a distinct t ...

'' division ***Genus ''

'' - rabbit rats ***Genus ''

Leporillus ''Leporillus'' is a genus of rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all ...

'' - Australian stick-nest rats ***Genus ''

Mesembriomys ''Mesembriomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Australia. It contains the following species: * Black-footed tree-rat (''M. gouldii'') * Golden-backed tree-rat (''M. macrurus'') References

Mesembriomys, Rodent g ...

'' - tree rats **''

Haeromys ''Haeromys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Southeast Asia. It contains the following species: * Ranee mouse (''Haeromys margarettae'') * Minahassa ranee mouse The Minahassa ranee mouse (''Haeromys minahassae'') is a spe ...

'' division ***Genus ''

'' - pygmy tree mice **''

Hydromys ''Hydromys'' is a genus of semiaquatic rodents in the subfamily Murinae. Three species are endemic to New Guinea and nearby islands. The fourth species, the rakali, is also found on Australia. The most recently discovered member of this genus wa ...

'' division ***Genus ''

Baiyankamys '' Baiyankamys'' is a genus of amphibious murid rodents. It was originally described, along with the species ''Baiyankamys shawmayeri'' by Hinton in 1943 after he found the remains of a single individual in south east of the Bismarck Mountain ...

'' (formerly in ''Hydromys'') ***Genus '' Crossomys'' (earless water rat) ***Genus ''

'' - water rats ***Genus ''

Leptomys ''Leptomys'' is a genus of rodent endemic to New Guinea. It is considered part of the New Guinea Old Endemics, meaning it was part of the first wave of murine rodents to colonize the island. Leptomys are seen to have minimal adaptations to thei ...

'' ***Genus ''

Microhydromys ''Microhydromys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae. It contains the following species: * Southern groove-toothed moss mouse (''Microhydromys argenteus'') * Northern groove-toothed shrew mouse The northern groove-toothed shrew mouse ...

'' ***Genus ''

Parahydromys The New Guinea waterside rat (''Parahydromys asper'') is the only member of the genus ''Parahydromys''. It is considered part of the New Guinea Old Endemics, meaning its ancestors were part of the first wave of murine rodents to colonize the isl ...

'' ***Genus ''

Paraleptomys ''Paraleptomys'' is a genus of rodent from New Guinea. It is considered part of the New Guinea Old Endemics, meaning it was part of the first wave of murine rodents to colonize the island. Members of the genus are similar to those in ''Leptomys' ...

'' ***Genus ''

Pseudohydromys ''Pseudohydromys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to New Guinea. It contains the following species: * Bishop's moss mouse (''Pseudohydromys berniceae'') * Huon small-toothed moss mouse (''Pseudohydromys carlae'') * Laur ...

'' - New Guinea false water rats ***Genus ''

Xeromys ''Xeromys myoides'', also known as the water mouse, marine mouse, mangrove mouse, false water rat, manngay and yirrkoo, is a species of rodent native to waterways of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Taxonomy A description of the species was pu ...

'' (false water rat) **''

Mallomys ''Mallomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae. The name of the genus is formed from the Greek μαλλός, ''mallos'', wool, and μῦς, ''mus'', mouse/rat. These very large rats weigh between and are native to highlands in New Guin ...

'' division ***Genus '' Abeomelomys'' ***Genus ''

'' - giant tree rats ***Genus ''

Mammelomys ''Mammelomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to New Guinea. It contains the following species: Genus ''Mammelomys'' *Large-scaled mosaic-tailed rat The large-scaled mosaic-tailed rat (''Mammelomys lanosus'') is a species ...

'' ***Genus ''

Pogonomelomys ''Pogonomelomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . Located in Oceania in the ...

'' - Rummler's mosaic tailed rats ***Genus '' Xenuromys'' (white-tailed New Guinea rat) **''

Pogonomys ''Pogonomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae, found in New Guinea and the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, with one species (the Prehensile-tailed Rat) being found also in Australia. Species include: * Champion's tree mouse (''Pogonomys cha ...

'' division ***Genus ''

Anisomys The squirrel-toothed rat (''Anisomys imitator''), also known as the New Guinea giant rat, powerful-toothed rat, uneven-toothed rat, or narrow-toothed giant rat, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus '' ...

'' (powerful-toothed rat) ***Genus ''

Chiruromys ''Chiruromys'' is a genus of Old World mouse that is restricted to New Guinea and the nearby islands of Goodenough, Fergusson, and Normanby. Characteristics These are small arboreal rats with long tails. Head and body is , tail is , and wei ...

'' ***Genus '' Hyomys'' - white-eared rats ***Genus ''

Lorentzimys The New Guinean jumping mouse (''Lorentzimys nouhuysi'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu ...

'' (New Guinea jumping mouse) ***Genus ''

Macruromys ''Macruromys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to New Guinea. It contains the following species: * Lesser small-toothed rat The lesser small-toothed rat or western small-toothed rat (''Macruromys elegans'') is a species of ...

'' - New Guinean rats ***Genus ''

'' - prehensile-tailed rats **''

Pseudomys ''Pseudomys'' is a genus of rodent that contains a wide variety of mice native to Australia and New Guinea. They are among the few terrestrial placental mammals that colonised Australia without human intervention. Natural history This genus con ...

'' division ***Genus ''

Leggadina ''Leggadina'' is a genus of rodents from Australia. Species Genus ''Leggadina'' *Forrest's mouse, ''Leggadina forresti'' Thomas, 1906 *Lakeland Downs mouse The Lakeland Downs mouse (''Leggadina lakedownensis'') is a species of rodent in the ...

'' ***Genus ''

Mastacomys The broad-toothed rat (''Mastacomys fuscus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. Distribution and habitat It is found only in South-eastern Australia. In Victoria live specimens have been caught in the Snowfields, Great Dividing Ra ...

'' ***Genus ''

Notomys A hopping mouse is any of about ten different Australian native mice in the genus ''Notomys''. They are rodents, not marsupials, and their ancestors are thought to have arrived from Asia about 5 million years ago. All are brown or fawn, fading t ...

'' - Australian

hopping mice A hopping mouse is any of about ten different Australian native mice in the genus ''Notomys''. They are rodents, not marsupials, and their ancestors are thought to have arrived from Asia about 5 million years ago. All are brown or fawn, fading t ...

***Genus ''

'' - Australian native mice ***Genus ''

Zyzomys ''Zyzomys'' is a genus of rodents with unusually thick, long tails. Five species of the genus are known in Australia, where they are called rock rats or thick-tailed rats. The genus was classified by Michael Rogers Oldfield Thomas in 1909. Tax ...

'' - thick-tailed rats **''Uromys'' division ***Genus ''Melomys'' - banana rats ***Genus ''Paramelomys'' ***Genus ''Protochromys'' ***Genus ''Solomys'' - naked-tailed rats ***Genus ''Uromys'' - giant naked-tailed rats **Unknown division ***Genus ''Brassomys'' ***Genus ''Coccymys'' *Tribe Malacomyini **Genus ''Malacomys'' - big-eared swamp rats *Tribe Millardini **''Millardia'' division ***Genus ''Cremnomys'' ***Genus ''Diomys'' (Manipur mouse) ***Genus ''Madromys'' ***Genus ''Millardia'' - Asian soft-furred rats **''Pithecheir'' division ***Genus ''Pithecheir'' - monkey-footed rats ***Genus ''Pithecheirops'' *Tribe Murini **Genus ''

'' - true mice *Tribe

**Genus ''Myotomys'' - African karoo rats (now classified in ''Otomys'') **Genus ''

'' - groove-toothed or vlei rats **Genus ''

'' - whistling rats *Tribe Phloeomyini **Genus ''Batomys'' - Luzon and Mindanao forest rats **Genus ''Carpomys'' - Luzon rats **Genus ''Crateromys'' - cloudrunners **Genus ''

'' - tree mice **Genus ''Phloeomys'' - slender-tailed cloud rats *Tribe

**Genus ''Chingawaemys'' - Chingawa forest rat **Genus ''Colomys'' (African wading rat) **Genus ''Congomys'' **Genus ''Heimyscus'' **Genus ''Hylomyscus'' - African wood mice **Genus ''Mastomys'' - multimammate mice **Genus ''Montemys'' **Genus ''Myomyscus'' **Genus ''Nilopegamys'' **Genus ''Ochromyscus'' - rock mice **Genus ''Praomys'' - African soft-furred rats **Genus ''Serengetimys'' **Genus ''Stenocephalemys'' - Ethiopian narrow-headed rats **Genus ''Zelotomys'' - stink mice *Tribe Rattini **''White-toothed rat, Berylmys'' division ***Genus ''Berylmys'' - white-toothed rats **''Bunomys'' division ***Genus ''Bullimus'' ***Genus ''Bunomys'' ***Genus ''Eropeplus'' (Sulawesian soft-furred rat) ***Genus ''Halmaheramys'' ***Genus ''Komodomys'' ***Genus ''Lenomys'' (trefoil-toothed rat) ***Genus ''Papagomys'' - Flores giant rats ***Genus ''Paruromys'' (Sulawesian giant rat) ***Genus ''Paulamys'' ***Species Timor rat, "''Rattus''" ''timorensis'' ***Genus ''Sundamys'' - giant Sunda rats ***Genus ''Taeromys'' **''Dacnomys'' division ***Genus ''Chiromyscus'' (Fea's tree rat) ***Genus ''Dacnomys'' (Large-toothed giant rat) ***Genus ''Lenothrix'' (grey tree rat) ***Genus ''Leopoldamys'' - long-tailed giant rats ***Genus ''Margaretamys'' - margareta rats ***Genus ''Niviventer'' - white-bellied rats ***Genus ''Saxatilomys'' ***Genus ''Tonkinomys'' **''Echiothrix'' division ***Genus ''Echiothrix'' ***Genus ''Hyorhinomys'' ***Genus ''Melasmothrix'' (lesser Sulawesian shrew rat) ***Genus ''Paucidentomys'' ***Genus ''Sommeromys'' ***Genus ''Tateomys'' - greater Sulawesian shrew rats ***Genus ''Waiomys'' - Sulawesi water rat **''Maxomys'' division ***Genus ''Crunomys'' - Philippine and Sulawesian shrew rats ***Genus ''Maxomys'' (rajah rats) **''Micromys'' division (alternately considered a distinct tribe, Micromyini) ***Genus ''Micromys'' (Old World harvest mice) **''

'' division ***Genus ''Abditomys'' ***Genus ''Bandicota'' - bandicoot rats ***Genus ''Diplothrix'' ***Genus ''Kadarsanomys'' ***Genus ''Limnomys'' ***Genus ''Nesokia'' (short-tailed bandicoot rat) ***Genus ''Nesoromys'' ***Genus ''Palawanomys'' (Palawan rat) ***Genus ''

'' - typical rats ***Genus ''Tarsomys'' ***Genus ''Tryphomys'' (Mearn's Luzon rat) **''Srilankamys'' division ***Genus ''Srilankamys'' (Ceylonese rats) **Unknown division ***Genus ''Anonymomys'' (Mindoro rat) *Tribe Vandeleurini **Genus ''Vandeleuria'' - long-tailed climbing mice *''incertae sedis'' **Genus †''Alormys'' **Genus †''Coryphomys'' **Genus ''Hadromys'' **Genus †''Hooijeromys'' **Genus †''Milimonggamys'' **Genus †''Rakasamys'' **Genus ''Vernaya'' (Vernay's Climbing Mouse) **Genus †''Spelaeomys''

Notes

References

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q30266 Muridae, . Old World rats and mice, . Rats of Asia, . Mammal subfamilies Taxa named by Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger