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Rodents
RodentsRodents are in the largest order of mammals (order Rodentia). The teeth of rodents are specialized for gnawing with continuously growing incisors. There are about 1,700 species including mice, rats, squirrels, beaver, porcupine, lemmings, gerbils, and gophers. Rodents like beavers are eco-engineers; certain mice and rats have been domesticated and are crucial to human health testing; others carry disease and destroy crops; squirrels provide the crucial service of dispersing and planting tree seeds; prairie dogs play a controversial role in conservation ranching; and chinchillas are famous for their fur. |  |
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Keywords order Rodentia, suborder Sciurognathi, gophers, squirrels, marmots, scaly-tailed squirrels, mountain beaver, gundis, jerboas, jumping mice, pocket gophers, kangaroo rats, pocket mice, voles, dormice, springhare, squirrels, suborder Hystricognathi, hystricognath rodents, pacas, chinchillas, tuco-tucos, mole-rats, agoutis, capybaras, voles, lemmings, hamsters, gerbils, porcupines, pacarana, conservation, habitat, protection, animals, mammals, endangered species, public health |
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