MURIDAE

large family of rodents (order Rodentia) containing about 100 genera and more than 400 living species, among them the common household rats and mice (Rattus and Mus). The family, known collectively as the Old World rats and mice, is basically Asian, but the household rats and mice have been introduced almost worldwide by human beings. For well-known or economically important members of the family, see bandicoot rat; cloud rat; field mouse; harvest mouse; mouse; pouched rat; rat; spiny mouse; water rat.