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( Muridae)
Deomyinae
Gerbillinae
Lophiomyinae
Leimacomyinae
Murinae The family name Muridae is sometimes used in a broader sense to include all members of the superfamily Muroidea. The murids are small mammals, typically around 10&_160;cm (3.9&_160;in) long excluding the tail, but ranging from 4.5 to 8&_160;cm (1.8 to 3.1&_160;in) in the Pygmy Mouse to 48&_160;cm (19&_160;in) in Cuming's Slender-tailed Cloud Rat. They typically have a slender body with a scaled tail, and pointed snouts with prominent whiskers. However, within these broad traits, there is a wide degree of variation. Many murids have elongated legs and feet allowing them to move with a hopping motion, while others have broad feet and prehensile tails to improve their climbing ability, and yet others have neither adaptation. They are most commonly some shade of brown in colour, although many have black, grey, or white markings[1]. Murids generally have excellent senses of hearing and smell. They live in a wide range of habitats from forest to grassland, and mountain ranges. A number of species, especially the gerbils, are adapted to arid desert conditions, and can survive for a long time with minimal water. They are either herbivores or omnivores, eating a wide range of foods in different species, with the aid of powerful jaw muscles and gnawing incisors that grow throughout life. The dental formula of mice is
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