Rodents (from
Latin rodere, "to gnaw") are
mammals of the
order Rodentia, which are characterized by a single pair of unremittingly growing
incisors in each of the upper and lower
jaws. About forty percent of all mammal species are rodents; they are found in vast numbers on all continents except
Antarctica. They are the most diversified mammalian order and live in a variety of terrestrial
habitats, including human-made environments. There are species that are
arboreal,
fossorial (burrowing), and semiaquatic. Well-known rodents include
mice,
rats,
squirrels,
prairie dogs,
porcupines,
beavers,
guinea pigs,
hamsters, and
capybaras. Other animals such as
rabbits,
hares and
pikas were once included with them, but are now considered to be in a separate order,
Lagomorpha.