Abditomys
Abeomelomys
Aethomys
Anisomys
Anonymomys
†Antemus
†Anthracomys
Apodemus
Apomys
Archboldomys
Arvicanthis
Baiyankamys
Bandicota
Batomys
†Beremendimys
Berylmys
Bullimus
Bunomys
†Canariomys
Carpomys
†Castillomys
†Castromys
†Chardinomys
Chingawaemys
Chiromyscus
Chiropodomys
Chiruromys
Chrotomys
Coccymys
Colomys
Congomys
Conilurus
†Coryphomys
Crateromys
Crossomys
Cremnomys
Crunomys
Dacnomys
Dasymys
Dephomys
Desmomys
†Dilatomys
Diomys
Diplothrix
Echiothrix
Eropeplus
†Euryotomys
Golunda
Gracilimus
Grammomys
Hadromys
Haeromys
Hapalomys
Heimyscus
†Hooijeromys
†Huaxiamys
†Huerzelerimys
Hybomys
Hydromys
Hylomyscus
Hyomys
Hyorhinomys
Kadarsanomys
†Karnimata
Komodomys
†Kritimys
Lamottemys
Leggadina
Lemniscomys
Lenomys
Lenothrix
Leopoldamys
Leporillus
Leptomys
Limnomys
Lorentzimys
Macruromys
Madromys
Malacomys
Mallomys
†Malpaisomys
Mammelomys
Margaretamys
Mastacomys
Mastomys
Maxomys
Melasmothrix
Melomys
Mesembriomys
Microhydromys
Micromys
†Mikrotia
Millardia
Mirzamys
Montemys
Muriculus
Musseromys
Mus
Mylomys
Myomyscus
Myotomys
Nesokia
Nesoromys
Nilopegamys
Niviventer
Notomys
Ochromyscus
Oenomys
†Orientalomys
Otomys
Palawanomys
†Paraethomys
†Parapodemus
Papagomys
Parahydromys
Paraleptomys
Paramelomys
Parotomys
†Parapelomys
Paucidentomys
Paruromys
Paulamys
Pelomys
Phloeomys
Pithecheir
Pithecheirops
Pogonomelomys
Pogonomys
Praomys
†Progonomys
Protochromys
†Qianomys
Pseudohydromys
Pseudomys
†Ratchaburimys
Rattus
Rhabdomys
†Rhagamys
†Rhagapodemus
Rhynchomys
†Saidomys
Saxatilomys
Serengetimys
Solomys
Sommeromys
Soricomys
†Spelaeomys
Srilankamys
Stenocephalemys
†Stephanomys
Stochomys
Sundamys
Taeromys
Tarsomys
Tateomys
Thallomys
Thamnomys
Tokudaia
Tonkinomys
Tryphomys
Uromys
Vandeleuria
Vernaya
Waiomys
†Wushanomys
Xenuromys
Xeromys
†Yunomys
Zelotomys
Zyzomys
The Old World rats and mice, part of the subfamily Murinae in the family Muridae, comprise at least 519 species. Members of this subfamily are called murines. In terms of species richness, this subfamily is larger than all mammal families except the Cricetidae and Muridae, and is larger than all mammal orders except the bats and the remainder of the rodents.[1]
The Murinae are native to Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. They are terrestrial placental mammals, like bats and the dingo native to Australia. They have also been introduced to all continents except Antarctica, and are serious pest animals. This is particularly true in island communities where they have contributed to the endangerment and extinction of many native animals.[2][3]
Two prominent murine species have become vital laboratory animals. The brown rat and house mouse are both used as medical subjects.
The murines have a distinctive molar pattern that involves three rows of cusps instead of two, the primitive pattern seen most frequently in muroid rodents.[4]
The first known appearance of the Murinae in the fossil record is about 14 million years ago with the fossil genus Antemus. Antemus is thought to derive directly from Potwarmus, which has a more primitive tooth pattern. Likewise, two genera, Progonomys and Karnimata, are thought to derive directly from Antemus. Progonomys is thought to be the ancestor of Mus and relatives, while Karnimata was previously thought to lead to Rattus and relatives, although it is now thought to be a member of the extant tribe Praomyini.[4][5] All of these fossils are found in the well-preserved and easily dated Siwalik fossil beds of Pakistan. The transition from Potwarmus to Antemus to Progonomys and Karnimata is considered an excellent example of anagenic evolution.[4]