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Rodents are a very successful group of mammals. They belong to the animal group called the order Rodentia.

Rodents have four special incisor teeth at the front of their mouths. These teeth never stop growing! To keep them from getting too long, rodents must constantly gnaw or chew on hard things. This is how they got their name. The word “rodent” comes from the Latin words rodere, meaning “to gnaw,” and dent, meaning “tooth.”

Most rodents are small, and you’re likely familiar with common ones like mice, rats, chipmunks, and squirrels. Some small rodents kept as pets include guinea pigs, hamsters, and gerbils. However, there are also larger rodents, such as porcupines and beavers. The largest living rodent is the capybara, which can grow 105 to 135 cm (about 40-55 in) long and weigh 35 to 65 kg (about 75-140 lbs). Incredibly, nearly half of all mammal species are rodents! Other examples include voles, prairie dogs, groundhogs, and chinchillas.

People often mistake rabbits, hares, and pikas for rodents because their teeth keep growing. However, in 1912, biologists placed them in their own group, Lagomorpha, due to the presence of two extra incisor teeth in their upper jaw. Similarly, shrews may resemble mice, but they aren’t rodents either—they belong to a group called Insectivora.

source: Rodent facts for kids Kids Encyclopedia Facts