Rodents (from Latin rodere, 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (/roʊˈdɛnʃə/ roh-DEN-shə), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all … 展开

One of the most widespread groups of mammals, rodents can be found on every continent except Antarctica. They are the only terrestrial placental … 展开

Evolutionary history
Dentition is the key feature by which fossil rodents are recognized and the earliest record of such mammals comes from the Paleocene, … 展开

• Rodentology 展开

The distinguishing feature of the rodents is their pairs of continuously growing, razor-sharp, open-rooted incisors. These incisors have thick layers … 展开

Feeding
Most rodents are herbivorous, feeding exclusively on plant material such as seeds, stems, leaves, flowers, and roots. Some are 展开

Conservation
While rodents are not the most seriously threatened order of mammals, there are 168 species in 126 genera that are said to warrant conservation attention in the face of limited appreciation by the public. Since 76 percent of rodent … 展开