The Old World rats and mice, part of the subfamily 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, 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 h ...

and Muridae, and is larger than all

orders 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 ...

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 Marsupialia. Placentalia contains the vast majority of extant mammals, which are partly distinguishe ...

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 ...

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 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 A ...

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'' 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. 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 Indi ...

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 us ...

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 spe ...

of 16 Murinae genera, based on molecular phylogenetic 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 '' Mus'' *

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'' *

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 ...

**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'' *

**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 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 Praomyini. 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 rats ...

'' - 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'' ***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'' division ***Genus '' Golunda'' (Indian bush rat) **'' Hybomys'' division ***Genus '' Dephomys'' - defua rats ***Genus '' Hybomys'' - hump-nosed mice ***Genus '' Stochomys'' (target rat) ***Genus '' Typomys'' **''

Oenomys ''Oenomys'' is a genus of African 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% o ...

'' 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 The acacia rat (''Thallomys paedulcu ...

'' - acacia rats ***Genus '' Thamnomys'' - 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 bee ...

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

'' - pencil-tailed tree mice **'' Chrotomys'' 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 '' Chrotomys'' - 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 ...

'' division ***Genus ''

'' - rabbit rats ***Genus '' Leporillus'' - Australian stick-nest rats ***Genus '' Mesembriomys'' - 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 sp ...

'' division ***Genus ''

'' - pygmy tree mice **''

Hydromys ''Hydromys'' is a genus (biology), genus of semiaquatic rodents in the subfamily Murinae. Three species are endemism, endemic to New Guinea and nearby islands. The fourth species, the rakali, is also found on Australia. The most recently discover ...

'' 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 '' Mirzamys'' ***Genus '' Parahydromys'' ***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 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 sout ...

'' ***Genus '' Pogonomelomys'' - 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 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 ...

'' division ***Genus '' Anisomys'' (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 weig ...

'' ***Genus '' Hyomys'' - white-eared rats ***Genus '' Lorentzimys'' (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'' ***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 ...

'' - 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 ...

***Genus ''

'' - Australian native mice ***Genus '' Zyzomys'' - thick-tailed rats **''

Uromys ''Uromys'' is a genus of rodents found in Melanesia and Australia. They are known as the giant naked-tailed rats. There are eleven species in the genus, with the most recent described in 2017. Species *Giant naked-tailed rat, ''Uromys anak'' Th ...

'' division ***Genus ''

Melomys ''Melomys'' is a genus of rodents in the family Muridae. Members of this genus live in the wet habitats of northern Australia ( Far North Queensland), New Guinea, Torres Strait Islands and islands of the Indonesian archipelago. Species The ge ...

'' - banana rats ***Genus ''

Paramelomys ''Paramelomys'' is a genus of rodent. All of the nine species of the genus are found in West Papua, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Species *'' Paramelomys gressitti'' *''Paramelomys levipes The long-nosed mosaic-tailed rat or Papuan lowland ...

'' ***Genus '' Protochromys'' ***Genus ''

Solomys ''Solomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae. These large rats, which are all seriously threatened (one already extinct), are native to the Solomon Islands. It contains the following species: * Poncelet's giant rat (''Solomys poncel ...

'' - naked-tailed rats ***Genus ''

'' - giant naked-tailed rats **Unknown division ***Genus ''

Brassomys The white-toothed brush mouse (''Coccymys albidens''), also known as the white-toothed melomys or white-toothed mouse, is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in West Papua (region), West Papua, Indonesia. Its natural habit ...

'' ***Genus ''

Coccymys ''Coccymys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It contains the following species: * '' Coccymys kirrhos'' * Rümmler's brush mouse Rümmler's brush mouse or Rümmler's mouse (''Coccymys ruem ...

'' *Tribe Malacomyini **Genus '' Malacomys'' - big-eared swamp rats *Tribe

Millardini Millardini is a tribe of muroid rodents in the subfamily Murinae. Species in this tribe are found in South and Southeast Asia. Species Species in the tribe include: * '' Millardia'' division ** Genus '' Cremnomys'' *** Cutch rat, ''Cremnom ...

**''

Millardia ''Millardia'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae native to South Asia and Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although ...

'' division ***Genus ''

Cremnomys Cremnomys is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae native to India. It contains the following species: * Cutch rat (''Cremnomys cutchicus'') * Elvira rat The Elvira rat (''Cremnomys elvira'') is a critically endangered species of rodent i ...

'' ***Genus '' Diomys'' (Manipur mouse) ***Genus '' Madromys'' ***Genus ''

'' - Asian soft-furred rats **''

Pithecheir ''Pithecheir'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Southeast Asia. It contains the following species: * Red tree rat (''Pithecheir melanurus'') * Malayan tree rat The Malayan tree rat (''Pithecheir parvus'') is a species of ...

'' division ***Genus ''

'' - monkey-footed rats ***Genus ''

Pithecheirops The Bornean pithecheirops (''Pithecheirops otion'') is a species of rodent found in Borneo. It is monotypic in the genus ''Pithecheirops''. ''Pithecheirops'' is closely related to the genus ''Pithecheir'', and the name is derived from ''Pitheche ...

'' *Tribe Murini **Genus '' Mus'' - true mice *Tribe

**Genus ''

Myotomys ''Myotomys'' is a genus of African Karoo rats that inhabit the Karoo, a semi-desert region in the southern portion of the African continent. Previously placed in the genus ''Otomys African vlei rats (''Otomys''), also known as groove-tooth ...

'' - 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 '' Musseromys'' - tree mice **Genus ''

Phloeomys ''Phloeomys'', the slender-tailed cloud rats, is a genus of large rodents in the family Muridae. Both species in this genus are endemic to the island of Luzon in the Philippines. Although their tail is covered by hairs, it is considerably less d ...

'' - slender-tailed cloud rats *Tribe Praomyini **Genus '' Chingawaemys'' - Chingawa forest rat **Genus ''

Colomys The African wading rat or African water rat (''Colomys goslingi'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is native to Africa, where it occurs in Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, E ...

'' (African wading rat) **Genus ''

Congomys ''Congomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae. Both species in this genus were formerly classified in ''Praomys'', and both are endemic to the Democratic Republic of Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: Républiqu ...

'' **Genus ''

Heimyscus The African smoky mouse or smokey heimyscus (''Heimyscus fumosus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus ''Heimyscus''. It is native to Central Africa, where it occurs in Cameroon, Central African Re ...

'' **Genus ''

Hylomyscus ''Hylomyscus'' 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&nbs ...

'' - African wood mice **Genus ''

Mastomys ''Mastomys'' 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 ...

'' - multimammate mice **Genus '' Montemys'' **Genus ''

Myomyscus Verreaux's mouse or Verreaux's white-footed rat (''Myomyscus verreauxii'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only member of the genus ''Myomyscus''. Other species that had been previously assigned to ''Myomyscus'' are now co ...

'' **Genus ''

Nilopegamys The Ethiopian amphibious rat also known as the Ethiopian water mouse (''Nilopegamys plumbeus'') is an insectivorous and semiaquatic species of rodent in the monotypic genus ''Nilopegamys'' of the family Muridae. There has only been one known spec ...

'' **Genus ''

Ochromyscus ''Ochromyscus'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae. It contains two species from Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, both of which were formerly classified in '' Myomyscus'': * Brockman's rock mouse, ''Ochromyscus brockman ...

'' - rock mice **Genus ''

Praomys ''Praomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Sub-Saharan Africa. It contains the following species: * '' Praomys coetzeei'' * Dalton's mouse, ''Praomys daltoni'' * De Graaff's soft-furred mouse, ''Praomys degraaffi'' * Der ...

'' - African soft-furred rats **Genus '' Serengetimys'' **Genus '' Stenocephalemys'' - Ethiopian narrow-headed rats **Genus '' Zelotomys'' - stink mice *Tribe

Rattini Rattini is a very large, diverse tribe of muroid rodents in the subfamily Murinae. They are found throughout Asia and Australasia, with a few species ranging into Europe and northern Africa. The most well-known members of this group are the true r ...

**'' Berylmys'' division ***Genus '' Berylmys'' - white-toothed rats **''

Bunomys ''Bunomys'' is a genus of rodent from Sulawesi and Buton Island. Currently, eight species are recognised in two species-groups. Species Genus ''Bunomys'' ''chrysocomus''-group: * Yellow-haired hill rat, ''Bunomys chrysocomus'' Hoffmann, 1887 * ...

'' division ***Genus '' Bullimus'' ***Genus ''

'' ***Genus ''

Eropeplus The Sulawesi soft-furred rat (''Eropeplus canus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus ''Eropeplus''. It is found only in Indonesia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forest. It is t ...

'' (Sulawesian soft-furred rat) ***Genus '' Halmaheramys'' ***Genus ''

Komodomys The Komodo rat or Nusa Tenggara Komodomys, (''Komodomys rintjanus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found only in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, in Rintja, Padar, Lomblen, and Pantar islands. Its natural habitat is subtropic ...

'' ***Genus ''

Lenomys ''Lenomys'' is a genus of rodent endemic to Sulawesi. It contains the living trefoil-toothed giant rat ''(Lenomys meyeri)'' and the extinct ''Lenomys grovesi''. References

Rodent genera Mammal genera with one living species Taxa named ...

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

Papagomys ''Papagomys'' is a genus of very large rats in the tribe Rattini of the subfamily Murinae. It contains two species, which are known only from the Indonesian island of Flores:Musser and Carleton, 2005; Zijlstra et al., 2008; Aplin and Helgen, 2010 ...

'' - Flores giant rats ***Genus ''

Paruromys The Sulawesi giant rat (''Paruromys dominator'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is monotypic in the genus ''Paruromys''. The species is endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia, where it inhabits forests at elevations from sea level to ...

'' (Sulawesian giant rat) ***Genus '' Paulamys'' ***Species "''Rattus''" ''timorensis'' ***Genus '' Sundamys'' - giant Sunda rats ***Genus ''

Taeromys ''Taeromys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae found exclusively in Sulawesi, Indonesia. It contains the following species: * Salokko rat (''Taeromys arcuatus'') * Lovely-haired rat (''Taeromys callitrichus'') * Celebes rat (''Taer ...

'' **'' Dacnomys'' division ***Genus ''

Chiromyscus Fea's tree rat or Indochinese chiromyscus (''Chiromyscus chiropus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found in Yunnan (China), eastern Myanmar, northern Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ...

'' (Fea's tree rat) ***Genus '' Dacnomys'' (Large-toothed giant rat) ***Genus '' Lenothrix'' (grey tree rat) ***Genus ''

Leopoldamys ''Leopoldamys'' is a genus of rodents in the family Muridae endemic to Southeast Asia. It contains the following species: * Sundaic mountain long-tailed giant rat (''Leopoldamys ciliatus'') * '' Leopoldamys diwangkarai'' * Edwards's long-taile ...

'' - long-tailed giant rats ***Genus ''

Margaretamys ''Margaretamys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to the island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Up until 1973, it was known from only few examples of one species. Then Guy G. Musser collected more examples of this species during his ...

'' - margareta rats ***Genus ''

Niviventer ''Niviventer'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Southeast Asia. It contains the following species: * Anderson's white-bellied rat, ''Niviventer andersoni'' * Brahma white-bellied rat, ''Niviventer brahma'' * '' Niviventer ...

'' - white-bellied rats ***Genus '' Saxatilomys'' ***Genus '' Tonkinomys'' **''

Echiothrix ''Echiothrix'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Sulawesi, Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of ove ...

'' division ***Genus ''

'' ***Genus '' Hyorhinomys'' ***Genus '' Melasmothrix'' (lesser Sulawesian shrew rat) ***Genus ''

Paucidentomys ''Paucidentomys'' is a genus of rodents of a type commonly known as shrew-rats which was discovered in 2012 in a remote rainforest on the Indonesian island, Sulawesi. The genus is monotypic, consisting of the species ''Paucidentomys vermidax'', ...

'' ***Genus '' Sommeromys'' ***Genus ''

Tateomys ''Tateomys'' is a genus of rodent from Sulawesi. Both species have been classified as vulnerable by IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources ...

'' - greater Sulawesian shrew rats ***Genus '' Waiomys'' - Sulawesi water rat **''

Maxomys ''Maxomys'' is a genus of rodents, widespread in Southeast Asia. They are mid-sized rodents, similar to rats, that live on the ground of tropical rainforests. There they build nests, padded with fallen leaves from trees. They feed on roots, fall ...

'' division ***Genus ''

Crunomys ''Crunomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae native to the Philippines and Sulawesi Sulawesi (), also known as Celebes (), is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands, and the world's eleventh-largest islan ...

'' - Philippine and Sulawesian shrew rats ***Genus ''

'' (rajah rats) **''

Micromys ''Micromys'' is a genus of small rodents in the subfamily Murinae. The genus contains two living species: the widespread Eurasian harvest mouse (''Micromys minutus'') of much of Europe and Asia; and the more restricted Indochinese harvest mouse ...

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

'' (Old World harvest mice) **''

'' division ***Genus ''

Abditomys The Luzon broad-toothed rat (''Abditomys latidens'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to central and northern Luzon in the Philippines. It is the only member of the genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic r ...

'' ***Genus ''

Bandicota ''Bandicota'' is a genus of rodents from Asia known as the bandicoot rats. Their common name and genus name are derived from the Telugu language word ''pandikokku'' (పందికొక్కు). DNA studies have found the group to be a mon ...

'' - bandicoot rats ***Genus ''

Diplothrix ''Diplothrix'' is a genus of two species of rodents in the family Muridae. ''Diplothrix legata'' occurs in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. ''Diplothrix yangziensis ''Diplothrix'' is a genus of two species of rodents in the family Muridae. ''Dipl ...

'' ***Genus ''

Kadarsanomys Sody's tree rat (''Kadarsanomys sodyi'') is a rodent species in the family Muridae that has been recorded only in bamboo forest in Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, West Java, Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, ...

'' ***Genus ''

Limnomys ''Limnomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to Mindanao, Philippines. It contains the following species: * Gray-bellied mountain rat (''Limnomys bryophilus'') * Mindanao mountain rat The Mindanao mountain rat or long-taile ...

'' ***Genus ''

Nesokia ''Nesokia'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to West Asia and Central Asia known as the short-tailed bandicoot rats. Species Genus ''Nesokia'' - short-tailed bandicoot rats: * Short-tailed bandicoot rat (''Nesokia indica'') G ...

'' (short-tailed bandicoot rat) ***Genus ''

Nesoromys The Ceram rat (''Nesoromys ceramicus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is found only in Seram Island, Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the I ...

'' ***Genus ''

Palawanomys The Palawan soft-furred mountain rat (''Palawanomys furvus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus ''Palawanomys''. It is found only in Palawan, Philippines, and has been recorded on Mount Mantalin ...

'' (Palawan rat) ***Genus ''

'' - typical rats ***Genus ''

Tarsomys ''Tarsomys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae found exclusively in Mindanao, Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officially the Republic of the Philippines ( fil, Republika ng Pilipinas, links=no), * bi ...

'' ***Genus ''

Tryphomys The Luzon short-nosed rat (''Tryphomys adustus'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is the only species in the genus ''Tryphomys''. It is found only in the Philippines The Philippines (; fil, Pilipinas, links=no), officia ...

'' (Mearn's Luzon rat) **'' Srilankamys'' division ***Genus '' Srilankamys'' (Ceylonese rats) **Unknown division ***Genus ''

Anonymomys The Mindoro climbing rat or Mindoro rat (''Anonymomys mindorensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.Musser, Guy G. "Notes on systematics of Indo-Malayan murid rodents, and descriptions of new genera and species from Ceylon, Sulawes ...

'' (Mindoro rat) *Tribe Vandeleurini **Genus ''

Vandeleuria ''Vandeleuria'' is a small genus of rodent from Asia with only three species. 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 worldwide us ...

'' - long-tailed climbing mice *''incertae sedis'' **Genus †'' Alormys'' **Genus †''

Coryphomys ''Coryphomys'' is an extinct genus of rats, known from sub-fossils found on Timor. Its name is Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language ...

'' **Genus ''

Hadromys ''Hadromys'' is a genus of rodent in the family Muridae endemic to 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 sha ...

'' **Genus †'' Hooijeromys'' **Genus †'' Milimonggamys'' **Genus †'' Rakasamys'' **Genus ''

Vernaya ''Vernaya'' is a genus of rodent in the subfamily Murinae from southern China and northern Burma Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English a ...

'' (Vernay's Climbing Mouse) **Genus †''

Spelaeomys The Flores cave rat (''Spelaeomys florensis'') lived on Flores Island, Indonesia. and Flemming Flemming is a surname and a male given name referring, like the more common '' Fleming'', to an inhabitant (or descendant thereof) of Flanders,

Notes

References

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q30266 . . . Mammal subfamilies Taxa named by Johann Karl Wilhelm Illiger