What is the Difference Between Rodents and Lagomorphs?

The key difference between rodents and lagomorphs lies in their incisor teeth and their diets. Here are the main distinctions between the two groups:

1. Incisor Teeth: Rodents have one pair of incisors in the upper and lower jaw, while lagomorphs have two pairs of upper incisors and one pair of lower incisors. In lagomorphs, the second pair of incisors in the upper jaw are called pivot teeth and do not have a cutting surface.
2. Diet: Lagomorphs, such as rabbits, hares, and pikas, are strictly herbivorous, while rodents, including mice, rats, squirrels, and guinea pigs, may consume both meat and vegetable matter.
3. Enamel: The front of rodent incisors is surrounded by an orange color pigmented layer of enamel, while the front of lagomorph incisors is surrounded by an unpigmented layer of enamel.
4. Cheek Teeth: All lagomorphs have high-crowned cheek teeth, whereas only some rodents share this feature.
5. Maxillary Fenestrations: These are present in lagomorphs but absent in rodents.
6. Paw Pads: Lagomorphs have no paw pads, and the bottoms of their paws are entirely covered with fur, while rodents have paw pads.

Despite these differences, both rodents and lagomorphs share some common features, such as continuously growing incisors, a diastema (space) between their incisors and molars, and the ability to gnaw.

Comparative Table: Rodents vs Lagomorphs

Here is a table comparing the differences between rodents and lagomorphs:

Rodents include mice, rats, prairie dogs, squirrels, porcupines, guinea pigs, and hamsters, while lagomorphs include hares, rabbits, and pikas. Both groups of animals have continuously growing incisors, but lagomorphs have two pairs of upper incisors, while rodents have only one pair. The enamel on the front of rodent incisors is orange, while in lagomorphs, it is unpigmented. High-crowned cheek teeth are present in some rodents but in all lagomorphs. Maxillary fenestrations are absent in rodents but present in lagomorphs. Additionally, all lagomorphs are grazers, while rodents have a more varied diet and lifestyle.