muroid

Muroid refers to any member of the superfamily Muroidea, a large and diverse lineage of rodents within the order Rodentia and the suborder Myomorpha. Muroids include many of the most familiar and species-rich rodents, such as mice, rats, voles, hamsters, and gerbils. They are broadly distributed across the world, occupying a range of habitats from forests and grasslands to deserts and urban environments.

Taxonomy and classification within muroids can vary by source, but the group typically includes the families Muridae (true mice and rats and their relatives), Cricetidae (hamsters, voles, new world rats and mice, and related forms), and Nesomyidae (various African and Madagascan rodents). Together these groups comprise hundreds of genera and more than a thousand species, making muroids one of the largest assemblages of living mammals.

Characteristics common to muroids include dentition specialized for gnawing, with continuously growing incisors and a diastema between the incisors and cheek teeth. They show remarkable ecological and morphological diversity, spanning small, agile cursorial species to larger, robust forms. Muroids occupy diverse niches, ranging from subterranean to arboreal lifestyles, and they display various reproductive strategies and social structures. Their diets are typically omnivorous, with some species specializing in seeds, grains, or insects.

Ecology and significance: Muroids often play key roles as seed dispersers, prey items, and ecosystem adapters, while some species have become pests or disease vectors in human settings. They are also central to scientific research, with Mus musculus (house mouse) and Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat) among the most widely used model organisms in biology and medicine. Conservation status within muroids varies, with many species common but others endangered or threatened due to habitat loss and other pressures.