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Anomaluromorpha
Anomaluromorpha is a clade that unites the anomalures, springhares, and zenkerella. It has alternately been designated as either a suborder or infraorder. Most recently, recognized it as one of five suborders of rodents. Characteristics The suborder Anomaluromorpha was erected to unite sciurognathous rodents with a hystricomorphous zygomasseteric system restricted to sub-Saharan Africa. Many authors have suggested that the two extant families may be only distantly related, and that they belong to separate suborders or infraorders. For example, the Pedetidae are the only family of rodents with multiserial enamel except for the Hystricognathi. This characteristic, the hystricomorphous zygomatic region, and a common distribution in southern continents has led many researchers to suggest that the springhares (but not anomalures) may be allied with hystricognaths. generated some support for Anomaluromorpha in a molecular phylogeny using 12S rRNA and cytochrome b. Famili ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rodent Taxonomy
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 native to all major land masses except for Antarctica, and several oceanic islands, though they have subsequently been introduced to most of these land masses by human activity. Rodents are extremely diverse in their ecology and lifestyles and can be found in almost every terrestrial habitat, including human-made environments. Species can be arboreal, fossorial (burrowing), saltatorial/ricochetal (leaping on their hind legs), or semiaquatic. However, all rodents share several morphological features, including having only a single upper and lower pair of ever-growing incisors. Well-known rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, prairie dogs, porcupines, beavers, Cavia, guinea pigs, and hamsters. Once included with rodents, rabbits, hares, and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pedetidae
The Pedetidae are a family (biology), family of rodents. The two living species, the springhares, are distributed throughout much of Southern Africa and also around Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Fossils have been found as far north as Turkey.McKenna, M.C. and Bell, S.K. 1997. Classification of Mammals: Above the species level. New York: Columbia University Press, 631 pp. (p. 185) Together with the anomalures and Cameroon scaly-tail, zenkerella, Pedetidae forms the suborder Anomaluromorpha. The fossil genus ''Parapedetes'' is also related. Taxonomy The family includes one living genus and four extinct genera. The Asian fossil ''Diatomys'' was previously included, but is now classified in the family Diatomyidae with the Laotian rock rat. *Family Pedetidae **Genus ''Pedetes'' ***South African springhare, ''P. capensis'' ***†''Pedetes gracilis'' ***†''Pedetes hagenstadti'' ***East African springhare, ''P. surdaster'' **Genus †''Megapedetes'' ***†''Megapedetes aegae ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cameroon Scaly-tail
The Cameroon scaly-tail (''Zenkerella insignis''), also referred to as the Cameroon anomalure, flightless anomalure or flightless scaly-tail, is a rodent species endemic to West Central Africa. The scientific literature has never (or possibly only obscurely) reported observations of live individuals. The taxonomic classification of the species has been subject to recent revision. Phylogeny Previous common names for this species included ''flightless scaly-tail 'squirrel'', but this is a misnomer as anomalures are very distantly related to the true squirrels of the rodent family Sciuridae and only superficially resemble them. ''Z. insignis'' is the only extant species in the genus ''Zenkerella'' and family Zenkerellidae and is the only surviving species of a lineage that diverged from the other extant anomalures (genera '' Idiurus'' and ''Anomalurus'') ~49 million years ago (Ma). Among mammals, very few species are the sole survivors of such ancient lineages, some other examples b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Sciurognathi
Sciurognathi is a suborder of rodents that includes squirrels, chipmunks, beavers, and many types of mice. The group is characterized by a specific shape to the lower jaw. In sciurognaths, the angular process of the jaw is in the same plane as the root of the incisors. This is in contrast to the suborder Hystricognathi where the angular process is outside the plane formed at the root of the incisor due to the presence of a shelf for muscle attachment. The sciurognathous condition is considered to be the primitive condition in rodents, and is therefore not a good character for cladistic analysis. Although hystricognaths are almost universally accepted as representing a real evolutionary grouping, most researchers do not consider Sciurognathi as an equally valid group. In particular, gundis are thought to be more closely related to the hystricognathous rodents than to other sciurognaths. In spite of this, most texts continue to use these two suborders due primarily to a lack ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zenkerella (rodent)
''Zenkerella'' is a genus of rodent, the only member of the Family (biology), family Zenkerellidae. It was formerly classified in Anomalure, Anomaluridae until phylogenetic studies made its distinctiveness clear. While the Anomalurus of the family Anomalure, Anomaluridae has gliding membranes between its forelimb and hindlimb, the ''Zenkerella'' has no such adaptation. It is estimated from fossil records that this divergence might have occurred in the middle of the Eocene. There is a single extant, the Cameroon scaly-tail, and a single fossil representative. The fossil species ''Zenkerella wintoni'' is known from a single mandible from Nandi Hills, Kenya, Songhor, Kenya dated to the Early Miocene. References {{Taxonbar, from=Q19717489 Zenkerella (rodent), Rodent genera Mammal genera with one living species Taxa named by Paul Matschie Anomaluromorpha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hystricomorphy
The zygomasseteric system (or zygomasseteric structure) refers to the anatomical arrangement of the masseter muscle and the zygomatic arch (cheek bone) in the skulls of rodents. This system plays a crucial role in the diverse chewing mechanics observed across rodent species. The zygomatic arch is modified to accommodate the masseter muscle, a primary muscle responsible for jaw movement. The masseter muscle itself is often divided into superficial, lateral, and medial components, allowing for a wide range of jaw motion, particularly the anteroposterior or propalinal movement (front-to-back chewing motion) characteristic of rodents. Variations in the structure of the zygomatic arch and the masseter muscle's insertion points have led to the classification of rodents into four main zygomasseteric types: protrogomorphous, sciuromorphous, hystricomorphous, and myomorphous, reflecting adaptations to different dietary niches and chewing strategies. Protrogomorphy The members of this grad ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Flying Mice
The flying mice, also known as the pygmy scaly-tails, pygmy scaly-tailed flying squirrels, or pygmy anomalures are not true mice, not true squirrels, and are not capable of true flight. These unusual rodents are essentially miniaturized versions of anomalures and are part of the same sub-Saharan African radiation of gliding mammal. Characteristics These animals resemble mice with gliding membranes and long, sparsely-haired tails. Their appearance is similar to some marsupial gliders. They are less than 10 cm (4 inches) in head and body length and weigh 14-35 grams (1/2 - 1.2 oz). They have a morphologically specialized tongue. Flying mice are nocturnal and are found in the poorly explored tropical forests of central (and to a lesser extent western) Africa. Little is known of their habits as a result. It has been suggested that one or both species may live in colonies of dozens of individuals. Bats may also be found sharing these tree-hollow colonies. Species * Long- ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Springhare
''Pedetes'' is a genus of rodent, the springhares, in the family Pedetidae. Members of the genus are distributed across southern and Eastern Africa. Species A number of species both extant and extinct are classified in the genus ''Pedetes''. They include: * South African springhare or ''springhaas'' (''Pedetes capensis'') * East African springhare (''Pedetes surdaster'') * ''Pedetes laetoliensis'' (Davies, 1987) (Pliocene fossil) Throughout the 20th century, the living species (and occasionally the prehistoric one) were merged into ''P. capensis'', making the genus monotypic. Ecology These rodents are generally nocturnal and sleep through the day in burrows they dig. They feed on foliage, roots and other vegetable matter, and occasionally arthropods. Outside the burrow they usually move around by hopping on their hind legs. When only one springhare species was recognized, it was listed as vulnerable by the IUCN in 1996 due to an approximately 20% decrease in the populatio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zygomasseteric System
The zygomasseteric system (or zygomasseteric structure) refers to the anatomical arrangement of the masseter muscle and the zygomatic arch (cheek bone) in the skulls of Rodent, rodents. This system plays a crucial role in the diverse chewing mechanics observed across rodent species. The zygomatic arch is modified to accommodate the masseter muscle, a primary muscle responsible for jaw movement. The masseter muscle itself is often divided into superficial, lateral, and medial components, allowing for a wide range of jaw motion, particularly the anteroposterior or propalinal movement (front-to-back chewing motion) characteristic of rodents. Variations in the structure of the zygomatic arch and the masseter muscle's insertion points have led to the classification of rodents into four main zygomasseteric types: protrogomorphous, sciuromorphous, hystricomorphous, and myomorphous, reflecting adaptations to different dietary niches and chewing strategies. Protrogomorphy The members of t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zenkerellinae
''Zenkerella'' is a genus of rodent, the only member of the family Zenkerellidae. It was formerly classified in Anomaluridae until phylogenetic studies made its distinctiveness clear. While the Anomalurus of the family Anomaluridae has gliding membranes between its forelimb and hindlimb, the ''Zenkerella'' has no such adaptation. It is estimated from fossil records that this divergence might have occurred in the middle of the Eocene. There is a single extant, the Cameroon scaly-tail, and a single fossil representative. The fossil species ''Zenkerella wintoni'' is known from a single mandible from Songhor, Kenya dated to the Early Miocene The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), Epoch made up of two faunal stage, stages: the Aquitanian age, Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages. The sub-epoch lasted from 23.03 ± 0.05 annum, Ma to .... References {{Taxonbar, from=Q19717489 Rodent genera Mammal genera with one living ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
