House mouse, Mus musculus
The Muridae, or murids, are the largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 1,383 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia.[1][2]
The name Muridae comes from the Latin mus (genitive muris), meaning "mouse", since all true mice belong to the family, with the more typical mice belonging to the genus Mus.
Classification[]
The murids are classified in five subfamilies, around 150 genera, and about 834 species.[3][4]
Subfamilies[edit][]
- Deomyinae (spiny mice, forest mice, relatives)
- Gerbillinae (gerbils, jirds, relatives)
- Leimacomyinae (groove-toothed forest mice)
- Lophiomyinae (maned rat or crested rat)
- Murinae (Old World rats and mice, including vlei rats)