Family MURIDAE
Compiler and date details
31 December 1998 - J.A. Mahoney & B.J. Richardson (1986); updated by Barry J. Richardson (1999), Centre for Biostructural and Biomolecular Research, University of Western Sydney, Hawkesbury
Introduction
The Muridae, a most ubiquitous family of rats and mice, is cosmopolitan. Several species are commensal with man and the now cosmopolitan distribution of the family is directly related to this commensal relationship. Some species are peridomestic while others are varingly anthropophobic. Murids may be terrestrial, arboreal, burrowing, partially aquatic, herbivorous, frugivorous, omnivorous, carnivorous, nocturnal, diurnal and crepuscular. The dental formula is 1/1, 0/0, 0/0, 2,3/2,3 = 12 or 16. The incisors grow continuously and are chisel-shaped. The feet are pentadactyl though the pollux is greatly reduced. Typically, the tail is well covered with hair among Australian species.
All Australian native rodents are murids and come from two subfamilies, the 'old endemics' of the Hydromyinae and the 'new endemics,' plus recent immigrants, of the Murinae. Four murids, all commensals with man, are recent introductions: Rattus rattus, Rattus norvegicus, Rattus exulans and Mus musculus. Two other rodents of the family Sciuridae, Funambulus pennant, from India and North Americian Sciurus carolinensis, have also been introduced. These two sciurid species have had little success in becoming established as natural popluations and, therefore, are not included in this catalogue.
References
Lee, A.K., Copley, P., Morris, K., Calaby, J.H. & Flannery, T.F. 1995. The action plan for Australian rodents. Australian Nature Conservation Agency Endangered Species Program Project No. 130. 62 pp.
Watts, C.H.S. & Aslin, H.J. 1981. The Rodents of Australia. Sydney : Angus & Robertson xii 321 pp. 16 pls
Watts, C.H.S. & Kemper, C.M. 1989. Muridae. pp. 939–956 in Walton, D.W. & Richardson, B.J. (eds). Fauna of Australia. Volume 1B Mammalia. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service pp. 827
Watts, C.H.S., Baverstock, P.R., Birrell, J. & Kreig, M. 1992. Phylogeny of the Australian rodents (Muridae): a molecular approach using microcomplement fixation of albumin. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 81–90
Williams, R. 1990. Rodents. pp. 185–190 in Hand, S.J. (ed.). Care and Handling of Australian Native Animals. Chipping Norton : Surrey Beatty