Jan Rozehnal – stock.adobe.com
QUIZ. Wild or domestic rodents can evoke both emotion and fear. Some more or less known species look strangely similar. Test your knowledge.
Rat or mouse, nutria or muskrat, field mouse or dormouse: some mammals belonging to the order of rodents (Rodents) look like. They all have one thing in common: they have one pair of incisors on each jaw. This often comes in handy for them. It allows them to gnaw food, of course, but also to defend themselves in the event of a fight and dig underground tunnels.
3.6 million domestic rodents in France
Rodents are found on all continents except Antarctica. These animals are usually small, stocky and have short legs. However, they cannot be underestimated: they represent 40% of mammal species. It is therefore the most diverse order, ahead of the Chiroptera (order of bats), with more than 2,000 species. The list of rodents is long and includes many domestic animals (chinchilla, gerbil, mouse, hamster, guinea pig, etc.). A common mistake is to add rabbits, hares, shrews or pikas, which do not belong Rodents.
Pet rodents appeal to many French people. According to Kantar figures for the Federation of Animal Feed Manufacturers (Facco), France has almost 3.6 million pet rodents. This is more than the number of terrarium animals and horses, but it is less than the number of cats, dogs, birds and even fish.
To find out how much you know about rodents, take our quiz.