Rodents — The Largest Group of Mammals 🐭🐿️
● Rodents are a group of mammals that make up about 40% of all mammal species on
Earth.
● There are around 2,000 known species of rodents!
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● Common examples include:
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○ Mice
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○ Rats
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○ Squirrels
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○ Gerbils
○ Beavers
Special Feature: Self-Sharpening Teeth 🦷
● Rodents are known for their long, sharp front teeth called incisors.
● These teeth are constantly growing throughout their life.
● Because they gnaw (bite and chew hard things like wood, nuts, and seeds), the teeth
naturally wear down and sharpen.
● If rodents don’t gnaw enough, their teeth can grow too long and make it hard for them
to eat.
Why They Gnaw
● To eat → open nuts, chew seeds, and fruits.
● To build homes → beavers chew through trees to make dams.
● To defend themselves → gnawing helps them escape predators by making tunnels or
hiding spots.
Fun Facts About Rodents 🌟
1. Beavers’ teeth are orange because they contain iron, which makes them extra strong
for chewing wood.
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2. The capybara (a giant rodent from South America) is the largest rodent in the world —
it can weigh up to 65 kg!
3. Mice can squeeze through spaces as small as a pencil’s width.
4. Squirrels help plant trees because they bury nuts, and some are never retrieved,
growing into new trees.
