Suborder
Myomorpha (Mice, rats, and hamsters)
Zapus trinotatus. Photo: (c) NatureGuy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND)
The suborder Myomorpha contains 1,137 species of mouse-like rodents, nearly a quarter of all mammal species. Included are mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters, lemmings, and voles. They are grouped according to the structure of their jaws and molar teeth. They are characterized by their myomorphous zygomasseteric system, which means that both their medial and lateral masseter muscles are displaced forward, making them adept at gnawing. As in the hystricognathous rodents, the medial masseter muscle goes through the
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Humboldt Life
- Kingdom: Animalia (Animals)
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