Muridae

Muridae is the largest family of mammals within the order Rodentia, and one of the most diverse groups of rodents, comprising roughly 700 species. Members of this family are distributed across a wide range of habitats worldwide, from deserts and forests to urban and agricultural areas. Muridae is part of the superfamily Muroidea and includes several subfamilies, notably Murinae (Old World mice and rats), Gerbillinae (gerbils), and Deomyinae (spiny mice and relatives).

The family includes many familiar genera, most prominently Mus (mice) and Rattus (rats). These genera contain species such as Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus, which are widely used as laboratory model organisms. Other murids encompass a variety of gerbils and numerous wild species with diverse ecologies. A common rodent trait within Muridae is the front teeth, which continuously grow and are adapted for gnawing.

Ecology and behavior vary widely among murids, but many are omnivorous or herbivorous and feed on seeds, grains, fruits, and occasionally insects. Reproduction is typically rapid, with short gestation periods and large litter sizes, contributing to the group’s evolutionary success and ability to colonize new regions. Some species are highly tolerant of human presence and become commensal, thriving in our buildings and farms.

Significance: Murids play important ecological roles as prey for many predators and as components of plant and soil communities. They can be agricultural pests and vectors of disease in some contexts, but their biology and genetics have made them central to biomedical research, with Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus among the most extensively studied model organisms. Taxonomically, Muridae sits within Rodentia and the larger Muroidea, with ongoing refinements as new data emerge.