RODENTS (GNAWING MAMMALS) Qn. What are rodents?

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RODENTS (GNAWING MAMMALS) Qn.     What are rodents? Are mammals with well-developed incisors and chew rapidly.

    Characteristics of rodents                            

• Rodents chew rapidly.
  • Have well developed incisors for biting.
  • They have sharp strong claws for digging up root crops.
  • Most rodents make holes in the soil for protection and as habitat.
  • They don’t have canine teeth.

Qn. State the disadvantages of rodents to crop farmers – Rodents destroy farmer’s crops.

• Examples of rodents 
  • squirrels    –        guinea pig 
  • rats          –        porcupines 
  • mice         –       beavers
  • mole rats             

Diagram showing some rodents.

• They have four sharp incisors in their upper jaw.
• They have strong hind limbs that are longer than their forelimbs.
• They have long ears and short tails.

Examples of lagomorphs

• Rabbits
• Pikas
• Hares
  Diagram showing some lagomorphs (Rabbit)

Importance of mammals

• Some mammals provide meat and milk.
• Some mammals are used for transport.
• Some mammals are used for ploughing.
• Some mammals provide security.
• Some mammals (scavenger mammals) clean the environment by feeding on abandoned flesh.
• Some mammal’s droppings are used to make manure.
• Some mammals provide hides and skins to people.
• The dung of some mammals can be used to produce biogas.
  Disadvantages of mammals
• Some mammals are crop pests.
• Some mammals dirt the environment by disposing off their wastes.
• Carnivores feed on people and other animals.
• Some mammals make a lot of noise in the environment.

Qn.    How do the following animals protect themselves?

(a)      Dog  

• By biting 
• By barking 

(b)     Cattle  

–        By goring 

(c)      Zebra

–        By running very fast

(d)     Cats 

–        By scratching using their strong claws

(e)      Goats  

-By goring