Mammaology rats mice and voles

Rattus norvegicus Family

Muridae

Rattus norvegicus defining features

stocky body, long tail, and large ears; commonly known as the brown rat. Very large, off white stomach, U shaped notch on skull where zygomatic arch attaches to the rostrum.

Norway rat/Brown rat - Rattus norvegicus

Off white stomach, u shaped notch, palate ends passed the molars, distinct temporal ridges

House mouse - Mus musculus family

Muridae

Mus musculus

yellowish belly, long mostly naked tail no coloration. Tooth has notch

Eastern Woodrat - Neotoma floridana family and subfamily

Family Cricetidae, Sub family Neotominae

Neotoma floridana characteristics

Bicolored tail, palate ends at molars, no temporal ridge, bright white stomach

woodland vole - Microtus pinetorum family and sub family

Family Cricetidae, Sub family Arvicolinae

Microtus pinetorum characteristics

reddish color, soft fur, small, tubular shape, triangluar dentine on molars

Subfamily Arvicolinae tooth characteristic

Triangular dentine on molar teeth

Muskrat - Ondatra zibethicus family and subfamily

Family Cricetidae, Sub family Arvicolinae

Ondatra zibethicus

tubular body, long soft fur, u shaped palate, triangular molar dentine

Northeastern marsh rice rat - Oryzonys palustris Family and Sub family

Family Cricetidae, sub family Sigmadontinae

Oryzonys palusius characteristics

S shaped molar dentine, long sharply bicolored tail, looks like a mouse

Marsh rice rat scientific name

Oryzonys palusius

Muskrat scientific name

Ondatra zibethicus

woodland vole scientific name

Microtus pinetorum

Eastern Woodrat scientific name

Neotoma floridana

House mouse scientific name

Mus musculus

Norwegian Rat or Brown Rat Scientific name

Rattus norvegicus

Hispid cotton rat scientific name

Sigmodon hispidus

Sigmodon hispidus family and sub family

Family Cricetidae, Subfamily Sigmadontinae

Sigmodon hispidus characteristics

salt and pepper coloration, s shaped molar dentine, some white on belly, mostly bicolored tail, tricolored hair

Fulvous harvest mouse scientific name

Reithrodontomys fulvescens

Reithrodontomys fulvescens family and sub family

Family Cricetidae, subfamily Neotominae

Reithrodotomys fulvescens characteristics

very small, very long tail, grooved incisors

Eastern deer mouse scientific name

Paromyscus maniculatus

Paromyscus maniculatus family and subfamily

Family Cricetidae, subfamily Neotominae

Paromyscus maniculatus characteristics

countershading like deer, tail shorter than body, bicolored tail

Texas deermouse scientific name

Paromyscus attwateri

Peromyscus attwateri family and subfamily

Family Cricetidae, subfamily Neotominae

Peromyscus attwateri characteristics

largest of the 3 peromyscus, bigger ears and feet than the others, longer tail with a little brush/tuft of fur at end

Golden mouse scientific name

Ochrotomys nutalli

Ochrotomys nutalli family and subfamily

Family Cricetidae, subfamily Neotominae

Ochrotomys nutalli characteristics

golden color, unlike peromyscus has a uniform tail not bicolored, prehensile tail

White-footed deermouse scientific name

Peromyscus leucopus

Peromyscus leucopus family and subfamily

Family Cricetidae subfamily neotominae

Peromyscus leucopus characteristics

tail long as or longer than body

Reithrodontomys fulvescens

triangle shaped dentine in molars

Subfamily: Arvicolinae

Footprint or prismatic pattern dentine in molars

Subfamily: Neotominae (ex eastern woodrat)

s shaped dentine in molars

Subfamily: Sigmadontinae

Notched incisors is unique to what (top skull)

Mus musculus or house mouse

the bottom skull with no notch belongs to what Genus

Peromyscus