Introduced Rodentia

Family Echimyidae

Nutria

This family contains greater than 90 species, but only the nutria, Myocastor coypus, occurs in Texas (as an introduced species).  The nutria is native to southern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile. 

 

Family Muridae

Old World Mice and Rats

The family Muridae includes the Old World mice, rats, and gerbils and is the largest family of mammals, with 150 genera and 730 species worldwide.  In Texas, two genera and three species occur.  All murids are relatively small mammals with short life spans and high reproductive rates.  All murids have the same dental formula: I 1/1, C 0/0, Pm 0/0, M 3/3 X 2 = 16.  They occupy all terrestrial habitats, and a few are arboreal or aquatic. 

 

Family Sciuridae

Squirrels and Allies

Marmota monax - Woodchuck

 

From The Mammals of Texas, Seventh Edition by David J. Schmidly and Robert D. Bradley, copyright © 1994, 2004, 2016.  Courtesy of the University of Texas Press.