Cricetidae

The Cricetidae are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. This group includes many familiar animals such as true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice. With over 870 species, it is either the largest or second-largest family of mammals.

These small mammals live in many parts of the world, from the Americas to Europe and Asia. They play important roles in many ecosystems, helping to control insect populations and serve as food for other animals. Their habits and behaviors have also been studied by scientists to learn more about animal life and health.

Characteristics

Cricetids are small mammals, ranging from about 5–8 cm (2–3 inches) long in the New World pygmy mouse to 41–62 cm (16–24 inches) long in the muskrat. Their fur is usually brown with a white underbelly, but it can have many different colors and patterns.

These rodents live in many different places, from the cold Arctic to warm rainforests and hot deserts. Some climb trees, some swim, and others live on the ground. They eat different foods, including plants, insects, and sometimes both. All cricetids have large front teeth called incisors that continuously grow. They have short pregnancies and can have large families. Their babies are born blind and without fur.

Evolution and systematics

Further information: List of cricetids

Cricetids, a large family of rodents, first appeared in the Old World during the Early Oligocene. They adapted to many different environments and spread around the world. Voles and lemmings evolved later, during the Pliocene, and diversified quickly in the Pleistocene.

Today, Cricetidae includes one fossil subfamily and five living subfamilies, with about 142 genera and over 870 species. These rodents include voles, lemmings, muskrats, hamsters, North American rats and mice, and New World rats and mice from South America.