Muridae (Noun)
Meaning
Originally Old World rats now distributed worldwide; distinguished from the Cricetidae by typically lacking cheek pouches.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The large family of Muridae contains over 700 species, including house mice, laboratory rats, deer mice, and many others.
- Rats and mice belong to the family Muridae and have spread to most areas of the globe through human migration.
- Rodents such as those found in the family Muridae typically transmit disease to humans through bites, urine, or droppings.
- One way to distinguish the Muridae family from Cricetidae is to look for the absence of cheek pouches.
- Laboratory studies have often used the Muridae family as subjects for various behavioral and biological experiments.