Table 2.2 Two classification schemes of rodents (only extant families are shown)
Simpson, 1945 Wilson and Reeder, 1993Categories Categories Distribution
Sciuromorpha Sciurognathi
Aplodontoidea Aplodontidae SW British Columbia (Canada) to Central California
Aplodontidae (Mountain Beaver) Sciuridae Worldwide except Australia and southern South America
Sciuroidea Geomyidae North America and Middle America
Sciuridae (Squirrels) Heteromyidae North America and Middle America
Geomyoidea Castoridae Nearctic and Palearctic (NW and NC Eurasia)
Geomyidae (Pocket Gophers) Muridae Worldwide except Antarctica and some oceanic islands
Heteromyidae (Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats) Dipodidae North America, Northern Africa, Eurasia, Central Asia
Castoridea Myoxidae Africa, Europe, and Central Asia
Castoridae (Beaver) Anomaluridae Central African forests
Anomaluroideaincertae sedis Pedetidae Southern African arid regions
Anomaluridae (Scaly-tailed Squirrels) Ctenodactylidae Northern Africa
Pedetidae (Spring Haas) Hystricognathi
Myomorpha Erethizontidae Nearctic, Middle America, parts of S America
Muroidea Caviidae S America
Cricetidae (Hamsters, New World Rats and Mice) Hydrochaeridae Panama and S American, tropics
Spalacidae (Mole-Rats) Dinomyidae Northern S America, Andean slopes
Rhizomyidae (Cane Rats) Dasyproctidae Mexico, Middle America, S America, tropics
Muridae (Old World Rats and Mice) Agoutidae Middle and South America
Gliroidea Chinchillidae Southern S America in C and S Andes
Gliridae (Dormice) Capromyidae West Indies
Platacanthomyidae (Spiny Dormice) Octodontidae S America in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina
Dipodoidea Ctenomyidae Southern S America
Zapodidae (Jumping Mice) Abrocomidae S America Andes in S Peru to N Chile
Dipoididae (Jerboas) Echimyidae Middle America and S America, tropics
Hystricomorpha Hystricidae Africa and Asia
Hystricoidea Thryonomyidae Sub-Saharan Africa
Hystricidae (Old World Porcupines) Petromyidae Sub-Saharan Africa
Erethizontoidea Bathyergidae Sub-Saharan Africa
Erethizontidae (New World Porcupines)
Cavioidea
Caviidae (Guinea Pigs & Relatives)
Hydrochaeridae (Capybara)
Dinomyidae (Pacarana)
Dasyproctidae (Agouti, Paca)
Chinchilloidea (Chinchilla, Vizcacha)
Chinchillidae (Chinchilla, Vizcacha)
Octodontoidea
Capromyidae (Hutia, Coypu)
Octodontidae (Degu,
Ctenomyidae (Tuco Tuco)
Abrocomidae (Chinchilla Rat)
Echimyidae (Spiny Rats
Thryonomyidae (African Cane Rat)
Petromyidae (African Rock Rat)
Bathyergoideaincertae sedis
Bathyergidae (African Mole-Rats)
Ctenodactyloideaincertae sedis
Ctenodactylidae (Gundis)