(click on image to enlarge)
Order Rodentia in Maine
Maine is home to 15 species in 13 genera in 5 families.
If you know which species you have or are interested in learning about, click on the appropriate species link below. Otherwise, to determine which genus that the animal you are trying to identify belongs to, refer to the tabular key immediately below the species list.
Family Castoridae (1 genus, 1 species)
Castor (1 species)
Castor canadensis - American beaver
Family Dipodidae (2 genera, 2 species)
Napaeozapus (1 species)
Napaeozapus insignis - woodland jumping mouse
Zapus (1 species)
Zapus hudsonius - meadow jumping mouse
Family Erethizontidae (1 genus, 1 species)
Erethizon (1 species)
Erethizon dorsatum - common porcupine
Family Muridae (4 genera, 5 species)
Clethrionomys (1 species)
Clethrionomys gapperi - southern red-backed vole
Peromyscus (2 species)
Peromyscus leucopus - white-footed mouse
Peromyscus maniculatus - deer mouse
Rattus (1 species)
Rattus norvegicus - Norway rat
Synaptomys (1 species)
Synaptomys cooperi - southern bog lemming
Family Sciuridae (5 genera, 6 species)
Glaucomys (2 species)
Glaucomys sabrinus - northern flying squirrel
Glaucomys volans - southern flying squirrel
Marmota (1 species)
Marmota monax - woodchuck
Sciurus (1 species)
Sciurus carolinensis - eastern gray squirrel
Tamias (1 species)
Tamias striatus - eastern chipmunk
Tamiasciurus (1 species)
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus - red squirrel
Key to the families of Order Rodentia in Maine
| tail cross-section | tail covering | tail length | char. 4 | habitat | |
| Castoridae | flat | scales | shorter than body | land, water | |
| Dipodidae | round | very short hair | extremely long (approx. 1.5x body length) | land | |
| Erethizontidae | round | hair, quills | shorter than body | land, trees | |
| Muridae | round | very short hair | shorter than to equal body | land | |
| Sciuridae | round | long hair (bushy) | equal to or longer than body | land, trees |
Castoridae ([common name])
[information to be added]
Castor (beaver)
[information to be added]
Castor canadensis (American beaver) dam at outlet of Lower Breakneck Pond and lodge (behind).
(click on image to enlarge)
Dipodidae ([common name?])
[information to be added]
- [information to be added]
Key to the genera of Family Dipodidae in Maine
| tail tip | char. 2 | char. 3 | char. 4 | char. 5 | |
| Napaeozapus | white | ||||
| Zapus | dark |
Napaeozapus ([common name?])
[information to be added]
Napaeozapus insignis (woodland jumping mouse) - [information to be added]
Zapus ([common name?])
[information to be added]
Zapus hudsonius (meadow jumping mouse) - [information to be added]
Erethizontidae ([common name])
[information to be added]
Erethizon (porcupine)
[information to be added]
Erethizon dorsatum (common porcupine) - (lower left) at the edge of a carriage road in Acadia National Park; (lower right; photo by Sharon Knopp) skeleton in woods behind Sand Beach at Acadia National Park.
(click on an image to enlarge)
Muridae ([common name?])
[information to be added]
Key to the genera of Family Muridae in Maine
| char. 1 | char. 2 | char. 3 | char. 4 | char. 5 | |
| Clethrionomys | |||||
| Peromyscus | |||||
| Rattus | |||||
| Synaptomys |
Clethrionomys ([common name?])
[information to be added]
Peromyscus ([common name?])
[information to be added]
Key to the species of Peromyscus in Maine
| char. 1 | char. 2 | char. 3 | char. 4 | char. 5 | |
| P. leucopus | |||||
| P. maniculatus |
Peromyscus leucopus (white-footed mouse) - [information to be added]
Peromyscus maniculatus (deer mouse) - [information to be added]
Rattus (rat)
[information to be added]
Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat) - [information to be added]
Synaptomys (bog lemming)
[information to be added]
Synaptomys cooperi (southern bog lemming) - [information to be added]
Sciuridae ([common name])
[information to be added]
Glaucomys (flying squirrel)
[information to be added]
Key to the species of Glaucomys in Maine
| char. 1 | char. 2 | char. 3 | char. 4 | char. 5 | |
| G. sabrinus | |||||
| G. volans |
Glaucomys sabrinus (northern flying squirrel) - [information to be added]
Glaucomys volans (southern flying squirrel) - [information to be added]
Marmota ([common name?])
[information to be added]
Marmota monax (woodchuck) - [information to be added]
Sciurus ([common name?])
[information to be added]
Sciurus carolinensis (eastern gray squirrel) is relatively more common in built up areas (e.g., lawns and parks).
(click on an image to enlarge)
Tamias (chipmunk)
[information to be added]
Tamias striatus (eastern chipmunk)
(click on an image to enlarge)
Tamiasciurus (squirrel)
[information to be added]
Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (red squirrel) is a common resident of the spruce-fir forests of Maine.
(click on image to enlarge)