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Soricidae (shrews)
True shrews belong to the family Soricidae. They are small mammals with short legs, a long flexible nose, small ears, and tiny eyes. As of 2025, there are 497 recognized species worldwide in 28 genera in the family Soricidae. In the United States, over thirty species of shrews are recognized, representing four genera—Blarina, Cryptotis, Notiosorex, and Sorex, all of which are in the subfamily Soricinae (red-toothed shrews).

From van Zyll de Jong (1983): "Most soricids are terrestrial, some are semi-fossorial (Cryptotis, Blarina), and others are adapted to a semi-aquatic way of life (e.g. Sorex palustris). Shrews are active day and night and in all seasons. They are chiefly insectivorous; the large species, to some extent are also carnivorous and some are known to eat seeds seasonally. The semi-aquatic forms are more or less piscivorous."

The skull is recognized by an elongated rostrum (snout); lack of zygomata (or zygomatic arches); first incisor enlarged; tympanic bone is a simple ring; and lack of auditory bullae (Hoffmeister, 1986).

  • Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda), the largest shrew in North America. Image by Gilles Gonthier.
  • A species of Notiosorex observed by Naturegirlkh.
  • A species of Sorex observed by Asmedley.
  • Lateral view of the skull of the Northern Short-tailed Shrew (Blarina brevicauda), showing an elongated rostrum, red-tipped teeth, and enlarged first incisors.
  • Lateral view of the skull of Cryptotis parvus, showing an elongated rostrum, red-tipped teeth, and enlarged first incisors.
  • Lateral view of the skull of the Desert Gray Shrew (Notiosorex crawfordi), showing an elongated rostrum, red-tipped teeth, and enlarged first incisors.
  • Lateral view of the skull of of the Southern Montane Shrew (Sorex monticolus), showing an elongated rostrum, red-tipped teeth, and enlarged first incisors.
  • Top (dorsal) view of a Sorex skull showing the location of the missing zygomata. All soricids lack zygomata.
  • Tympanic rings (bones) on underside (ventral side) of the skull of the Southern Montane Shrew (Sorex monticolus). The tympanic ring is part of the auditory system in shrews of the family Soricidae.


Talpidae (moles)
From Naughton (2012): "Talpids (members of the family Talpidae) in the United States are dark gray or blackish animals with fusiform bodies; short appendages; manus (hand) rotated so palm faces outward; entirely white teeth; the skull is compressed dorsoventrally with a long rostrum; complete auditory bullae; complete but weak zygomata." As of 2025, the family Talpidae includes 68 species. Eight species are present in the United States, representing five genera—Condylura, Neurotrichus, Parascalops, Scalopus, and Scapanus. The Townsend's Mole (Scapanus townsendii) is the largest mole in North America and the American Shrew Mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii) is the smallest mole in North America.
  • Townsend's Mole (Scapanus townsendii), the largest mole in North America.
  • Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata), showing its unique star nose. This is the only species with a star-shaped nose.
  • American Shrew Mole (Neurotrichus gibbsii), the smallest species of mole in the Americas. Notice the small size and relatively long and hairy tail.
  • Dorsal view of the skull of a Townsend's Mole (Scapanus townsendii), the largest mole in North America.
  • Lateral view of the skull of a Townsend's Mole (Scapanus townsendii).
  • Lateral view of the skull of a Star-nosed Mole (Condylura cristata).
Cricetidae (true hamsters, voles, lemmings, muskrats, and New World rats and mice)
Cricetidae is a large and diverse family of rodents and the second largest family of mammals. It includes rats and mice native to the Americas, true hamsters, voles, lemmings, and muskrats. The largest member of this family is the Common Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus). The smallest member of Cricetidae is the Northern Pygmy Mouse (Baiomys taylori). For a comparison of voles and lemmings in the United States, see subfamily: Arvicolinae. Although commonly kept as pets in the United States, true hamsters (subfamily: Cricetinae) are not native to the Americas.


Muridae (Old World rats and mice)
Muridae is a large family of rodents. Murids are not native to the Americas. Three species are present in the United States: House Mouse (Mus musculus), Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus), and Roof Rat (Rattus rattus). These three species have been introduced nearly worldwide and are more likely to be found in or near areas occupied by humans. Mammalogists refer to them as Old World rats and mice to distinguish them from mice and rats native to the Americas and belonging to the family Cricetidae.
Heteromyidae (pocket mice, kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice)
From Hoffmeister (1986): "Relatively small-bodied rodents with long tails, most modified for jumping, with hind limbs elongated and forelimbs shortened, cheek pouches fur-lined and open externally, interparietal reduced, auditory bullae greatly inflated, incisors thin and compressed, no post-orbital process." Except for spiny pocket mice (Heteromys), heteromyids have grooved upper incisors. Five genera can be found in the United States: Chaetodipus, Dipodomys, Heteromys, Microdipodops, and Perognathus.
Zapodidae (jumping mice)
Members of the family Zapodidae (jumping mice) have elongated hind limbs, remarkably long tails that are not well-haired (lack crests and tufts), dorsal coloration that ranges from dull yellow to bright yellowish orange with a darker mid-dorsal stripe, and a white venter. The upper incisors are grooved. Their skulls can be recognized by the presence of three or four cheekteeth.

The family Zapodidae contains two genera: Napaeozapus and Zapus. Napaeozapus typically have white-tipped tails whereas Zapus do not. Species in the genus Zapus have four cheekteeth, while species in the genus Napaeozapus have three.

  • Northern Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius) observed in the United States by Josh Emm.
  • Northern Pacific Jumping Mouse (Zapus trinotatus) shown, representing members of the genus Zapus. Zapus typically lack a white tip at the end of the tail.
  • Western Woodland Jumping Mouse (Napaeozapus abietorum) shown, representing members of the genus Napaeozapus. Napaeozapus typically have a white-tipped tail.
  • Cheekteeth (molariform teeth) of Zapus
  • Cheekteeth (molariform teeth) of Napaeozapus
Geomyidae (pocket gophers)
Sciuridae (squirrels)
The Squirrel family (Sciuridae) contains over 320 species. It includes the tree squirrels, ground squirrels, marmots, prairie dogs, flying squirrels, and chipmunks. Each genus found in the United States of America is represented below with a single photograph.
An taxon list can't be produced because this taxon can't be found in the WhiskerWiki database!
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