New World rats and mice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New World Rats and MiceTemporal range: Late Miocene - Recent
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| Sigmodon hispidus | |
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Cricetidae
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Neotominae |
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The New World rats and mice are a large group of rodents. They belong to the family Cricetidae. These animals are mammals with fur and long tails. You can find them living in the wild across North and South America. This group is huge, with about 500 different species!
Scientists are not fully sure if all New World rats and mice came from one single common ancestor. Because of this, there isn't one official scientific name for the whole group. However, they are divided into three main smaller groups called subfamilies: Neotominae, Sigmodontinae, and Tylomyinae.
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What Do They Look Like?
New World rats and mice have adapted to many different environments. This means they have developed many different shapes and sizes. Most of them look like typical rats or mice.
However, some species look quite different. Some might resemble voles, moles, gerbils, or even shrews.
Size Differences Among Species
The largest New World rats and mice are from the group called Kunsia. Their bodies can be about 16 to 30 centimeters (6 to 12 inches) long. Their tails add another 8 to 16 centimeters (3 to 6 inches).
On the other hand, some of the smallest are from the group called Baiomys. These tiny rodents have bodies only about 5 to 8 centimeters (2 to 3 inches) long. Their tails are also quite short, around 5 centimeters (2 inches).
Where Do New World Rats and Mice Live?
Most New World rats and mice live on the ground. They are also very good at climbing trees. Some species spend most of their lives in trees.
Others are expert diggers, making homes in burrows underground. A few species even spend part of their lives in the water! They are found in many different habitats, from forests to grasslands.
Do They Hibernate in Winter?
New World rats and mice do not truly hibernate like some other animals. Hibernation is a deep sleep that lasts all winter.
However, on very cold days in winter, they sometimes go into a state called torpor. Torpor is like a short, light sleep where their body temperature and activity slow down. This helps them save energy when food is scarce.
How Long Do New World Rats and Mice Live?
These rodents have many predators in the wild. Because of this, they usually do not live very long. In their natural homes, most New World rats and mice live for less than a year.
However, if they are kept indoors and protected by people, they can live much longer. Some have even reached ages of up to five years!
Adapting to Humans
Some species of New World rats and mice have learned to live close to humans. These animals are called hemerophile species. This means they like to live near people and human activity.
You can see this in some of their common names. Examples include the Cotton rat, Marsh rice rat, Brown Cane Mouse, and Short-tailed Cane Mouse.
Images for kids
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Sigmodon hispidus
See also
In Spanish: Ratas y ratones del Nuevo Mundo para niños
