🦋 Identification Guide

How to Identify Cricetidae

53 species · Animalia · Order Rodentia

Cricetidae is a animal family in the Animalia kingdom, order Rodentia, class Mammalia. The family contains 53 accepted species worldwide.

Key Identification Features

However, following assessments from the ASM and IUCN, Neotoma insularis (Townsend, 1912) is now recognized as a separate species distinct from N.
Like other muroids, this species has a distinct keyhole-shaped infraorbital foramen.
Around five subspecies have been described, but all are thought to represent a regional cline rather than distinct separate populations.
Due to their attractive coloration, golden mice have often been featured in books, such as Poppy.

For instant identification in the field, use the iNature app — AI-powered, works offline.

Representative Cricetidae Species

Neotoma lepida Thomas, 1893

Neotoma lepida (desert woodrat) is a small pack rat species found in western Nor…

Peromyscus gossypinus (Le Conte, 1853)

Peromyscus gossypinus, the cotton mouse, is a small mouse native to the southeas…

Ochrotomys nuttalli (Harlan, 1832)

Ochrotomys nuttalli, the golden mouse, is a small rodent native to the southeast…

Ondatra zibethicus (Linnaeus, 1766)

The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a large semiaquatic cricetid rodent native t…

Microtus pinetorum (Le Conte, 1830)

Microtus pinetorum, the woodland vole, is a small partially subterranean rodent …

Microtus mexicanus (Saussure, 1861)

Microtus mexicanus, the Mexican vole, is a vole species found in disjunct popula…

Mesocricetus auratus (Waterhouse, 1839)

Mesocricetus auratus, the golden/Syrian hamster, is a small rodent with expandab…

Microtus californicus (Peale, 1848)

The California vole (Microtus californicus) is a medium-sized North American gra…

Cricetus cricetus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Cricetus cricetus, the European hamster, is the largest known hamster species, f…

Sigmodon arizonae Mearns, 1890

Sigmodon arizonae (Arizona cotton rat) is a distinct rat species found in the so…

Neotoma micropus Baird, 1855

Neotoma micropus, the Southern Plains woodrat, is a vegetarian rodent found in s…

Lemmus lemmus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Lemmus lemmus, the Norway lemming, is a small lemming with distinct population c…

Browse all 53 Cricetidae species →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you identify Cricetidae?

Cricetidae animals belong to the Rodentia order in the Animalia kingdom. However, following assessments from the ASM and IUCN, Neotoma insularis (Townsend, 1912) is now recognized as a separate species distinct from N. For instant identification, use the iNature app — AI-powered and works offline.

What are the key characteristics of Cricetidae?

Cricetidae is classified in the order Rodentia, class Mammalia, phylum Chordata. Like other muroids, this species has a distinct keyhole-shaped infraorbital foramen.

Sources: GBIF, iNaturalist, Wikipedia · Disclaimer

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