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The Order Rodentia: Major Questions on Their Evolutionary Origin, Relationships and Suprafamilial Systematics

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Evolutionary Relationships among Rodents

Part of the book series: NATO Advanced Science Institutes (ASI) Series ((NSSA,volume 92))

Abstract

During the last 55 million years of mammalian evolution, the order Rodentia has had an increasing success in terrestrial mammalian communities. No less than 330 to 400 genera, and 1800 to 2300 species, have been recorded in the Recent fauna, and the last number represents half of all species of mammals. All continents and all islands, including the smallest, are colonized by these small animals, sometimes with the aid of man himself. In deserts, mountains, rivers and cities, rodents are joining man in many of his activities, including exploitation of the earth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution, LA 327, U. S. T. L., Place Eugène Bataillon, 34060, Montpellier, France

    Jean-Louis Hartenberger

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  1. Jean-Louis Hartenberger
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA

    W. Patrick Luckett

  2. Institute of Evolutionary Sciences, University of Montpellier II, Montpellier, France

    Jean-Louis Hartenberger

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Hartenberger, JL. (1985). The Order Rodentia: Major Questions on Their Evolutionary Origin, Relationships and Suprafamilial Systematics. In: Luckett, W.P., Hartenberger, JL. (eds) Evolutionary Relationships among Rodents. NATO Advanced Science Institutes (ASI) Series, vol 92. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0539-0_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0539-0_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

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