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Mandible comparisons

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This page provides a quick side-by-side comparison of the mandibles of rodents, shrews, and moles found in the United States of America.

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Family Soricidae (shrews)

In the United States, all of our soricids are in the subfamily Soricinae, the red-toothed shrews. As the common name for the subfamily implies, all species of Blarina, Cryptotis, Notiosorex and Sorex have red-tipped teeth.

Blarina

Cryptotis

Notiosorex

Sorex

  • Lateral view of the left mandible of the Marsh Shrew (Sorex bendirii), representing members of the genus Sorex.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Marsh Shrew (Sorex bendirii), representing members of the genus Sorex.

Family Talpidae (moles)

Members of the family Talpidae have long skulls with narrow rostrums (the anterior, snout-like portion of the skull). The zygomatic arches are complete, unlike in members of the family Soricidae (above).

Condylura cristata

Neurotrichus gibbsii

Parascalops

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Scalopus aquaticus (Eastern Mole)

  • Lateral view of the left mandible of the Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus), the only living member of the genus Scalopus.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus), the only living member of the genus Scalopus.

Scapanus

Family Cricetidae (rats, mice, voles, lemmings, and relatives)

Subfamily Arvicolinae (voles, lemmings, and muskrats)

Alexandromys

Arborimus (tree voles)

Clethrionomys (red-backed voles)

Dicrostonyx (collared lemmings)

Lemmiscus (sagebrush vole)

Lemmus (true lemmings)

Microtus (meadow voles)

Mictomys borealis (northern bog lemming)

Neofiber alleni (Round-tailed Muskrat)

  • Lateral view of the left mandible of the Round-tailed Muskrat (Neofiber alleni).
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Round-tailed Muskrat (Neofiber alleni).

Ondatra zibethicus (Common Muskrat)

Phenacomys (heather voles)

Synaptomys (southern bog lemming)

Subfamily Neotominae (deer mice, woodrats, and relatives)

Members of the subfamily Neotominae have complete zygomatic arches and lack a postorbital process (see subfamily Arvicolinae, above). The upper incisors are smooth, except in Reithrodontomys they are grooved.

Baiomys (pygmy mice)

Neotoma (woodrats or packrats)

  • Lateral view of the mandible of the White-throated Woodrat (Neotoma albigula), representing members of the genus Neotoma.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the White-throated Woodrat (Neotoma albigula), representing members of the genus Neotoma.

Ochrotomys nuttali (Golden Mouse)

Onychomys (grasshopper mice)

Oryzomys (rice rats)

  • Lateral view of the mandible of the Coues's Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys couesi), representing members of the genus Oryzomys.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Coues's Marsh Rice Rat (Oryzomys couesi), representing members of the genus Oryzomys.

Peromyscus (deer mice)

Podomys floridanus (Florida Mouse)

Reithrodontomys

Subfamily Sigmodontinae (cotton rats)

Sigmodon

Family Muridae (old world rats and mice)

Mus musculus (House Mouse)

  • Lateral view of the left mandible of the House Mouse (Mus musculus).
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the House Mouse (Mus musculus).

Rattus

  • Lateral view of the left mandible of the Roof Rat (Rattus rattus), representing members of the genus Rattus.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Roof Rat (Rattus rattus), representing members of the genus Rattus.

Family Heteromyidae (kangaroo rats, pocket mice, and relatives)

Members of the family Heteromyidae have skulls that are somewhat triangular in shape, with complete zygomatic arches, enlarged auditory bullae, and grooved upper incisors.

Chaetodipus

Dipodomys

  • Lateral view of the mandible of the Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys microps) shown, representing members of the genus Dipodomys.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys microps) shown, representing members of the genus Dipodomys.

Microdipodops

  • Lateral view of the mandible of the No common name found for Microdipodops oregonus, representing members of the genus Microdipodops.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the No common name found for Microdipodops oregonus, representing members of the genus Microdipodops.

Perognathus

Family Zapodidae (jumping mice)

Members of the family Zapodidae have skulls with complete zygomatic arches, lack a postorbital process (see subfamily Arvicolinae, above), and have grooved upper incisors. Napaeozapus have 3 cheekteeth (molariform teeth); Zapus have four molariform teeth.

Napaeozapus

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Zapus

  • Lateral view of the mandible of the Central Pacific Jumping Mouse (Zapus montanus), representing members of the genus Zapus.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Central Pacific Jumping Mouse (Zapus montanus), representing members of the genus Zapus.

Family Geomyidae (pocket gophers)

Cratogeomys

  • Lateral view of the mandible of the Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher (Cratogeomys castanops). This is the only member in the genus Cratogeomys.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher (Cratogeomys castanops). This is the only member in the genus Cratogeomys.

Geomys

  • Lateral view of the mandible of the Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius), representing members of the genus Geomys.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Plains Pocket Gopher (Geomys bursarius), representing members of the genus Geomys. The upper incisors each have two longitudinal grooves.

Megascapheus (smooth-toothed pocket gophers)

Thomomys (smooth-toothed pocket gophers)

  • Lateral view of the mandible of the Western Pocket Gopher (Thomomys mazama), representing members of the genus Thomomys.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Western Pocket Gopher (Thomomys mazama), representing members of the genus Thomomys.

Family Sciuridae (chipmunks, squirrels, marmots, and their relatives)

Members of the family Sciuridae have a sharply pointed postorbital process (a bony projection from the frontal bone that is located at the back, upper edge of the eye socket).

Ammospermophilus (antelope sqiurrels)

Callospermophilus (golden-mantled ground squirrels)

Cynomys (prairie dogs)

  • Lateral view of the mandible of the White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus), representing members of the genus Cynomys.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the White-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys leucurus), representing members of the genus Cynomys.

Glaucomys (flying squirrels)

Ictidomys ground squirrels

  • Lateral view of the mandilbe of the Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus), representing members of the genus Ictidomys.
  • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus), representing members of the genus Ictidomys.

    • Marmota (marmots)

    Neotamias and Tamias (chipmunks)

    Otospermophilus (ground squirrels)

    Poliocitellus franklinii (Franklin's Ground Squirrel)

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    Sciurus (tree squirrels)

    • Lateral view of the mandible of the Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger), representing members of the genus Sciurus.
    • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Eastern Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger), representing members of the genus Sciurus.

    Tamiasciurus (tree squirrels)

    • Lateral view of the mandible of the North American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), representing members of the genus Tamiasciurus.
    • Dorsal view of the mandible of the North American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), representing members of the genus Tamiasciurus.

      • Urocitellus (ground squirrels)

      • Lateral view of the mandible of the Arctic Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus parryii), representing members of the genus Urocitellus.
      • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Arctic Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus parryii), representing members of the genus Urocitellus.

      Xerospermophilus (ground squirrels)

      Family Aplodontiidae

      Aplondontia rufa (Mountain Beaver)

      • Lateral view of the mandible of the Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufa). This is the only species in the family Aplodontiidae.
      • Dorsal view of the mandible of the Mountain Beaver (Aplodontia rufa). This is the only species in the family Aplodontiidae.

      Family Erethizontidae (porcupine)

      Erethizon dorsatum (North American Porcupine)

      • Lateral view of the mandible of the North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). This is the only species in the family Erethizontidae.
      • Dorsal view of the mandible of the North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). This is the family Erethizontidae.

      Family Castoridae

      Castor canadensis (North American Beaver)

      • Lateral view of the mandible of the North American Beaver (Castor canadensis). This is the only species in the family Castoridae.
      • Dorsal view of the mandible of the North American Beaver (Castor canadensis). This is the only species in the family Castoridae.
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