“Rodents live on every continent except Antarctica. South America is home to capybaras, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and degus; North America has beavers, prairie dogs, porcupines, and many squirrels; Africa has naked mole-rats, springhares, and crested porcupines; Asia has hamsters, gerbils, and giant squirrels; Europe has dormice and red squirrels; and Australia has native hopping mice and water rats.”
Rodents are the most widespread group of mammals on Earth. Each continent has its own distinctive rodent communities, shaped by millions of years of evolution, geography, and climate. This guide takes you on a quick world tour of native rodents, continent by continent.
Rodents at a Glance by Continent
| Continent | Signature Native Rodents |
|---|---|
| South America | Capybara, guinea pig, chinchilla, degu, agouti, paca, mara, nutria, tuco-tuco |
| North America | Beaver, prairie dog, groundhog, porcupine, pocket gopher, kangaroo rat, flying squirrel |
| Africa | Naked mole-rat, springhare, crested porcupine, cane rat, African giant pouched rat, gundi |
| Asia | Golden and dwarf hamsters, Mongolian gerbil, giant squirrels, bamboo rats, jerboas |
| Europe | Eurasian red squirrel, hazel dormouse, European hamster, Eurasian beaver, lemmings |
| Australia | Hopping mice, rakali (water rat), tree rats, stick-nest rats |
| Antarctica | None |
South America: Land of Cavies
South America has one of the most distinctive rodent faunas on Earth, thanks to the caviomorph rodents whose ancestors likely rafted from Africa about 40 million years ago. They diversified into an incredible range of forms:
- Capybara: the world’s largest rodent. See where capybaras live.
- Guinea pig: domesticated in the Andes. See guinea pig care.
- Chinchillas and viscachas: dense-furred mountain rodents. See chinchilla care.
- Degus: social rodents of Chile. See degu care.
- Agoutis and pacas: forest rodents important for seed dispersal.
- Maras: long-legged cavies of Patagonia.
- Tuco-tucos: burrowing rodents of grasslands.
Read more in rodent evolution.
North America: Engineers and Burrowers
- Beavers: ecosystem engineers. See beaver facts.
- Prairie dogs: colonial grassland rodents. See prairie dog facts.
- Groundhogs and marmots: hibernating burrowers. See groundhog facts.
- North American porcupine: a tree-climbing quilled rodent.
- Pocket gophers and kangaroo rats: burrowers and desert specialists.
- Squirrels and chipmunks: including flying squirrels. See types of squirrels.
- Muskrats and voles.
Africa: Diggers and Oddballs
- Naked mole-rats: nearly hairless rodents living in colonies with a queen, famous for long lives and resistance to some diseases.
- Springhares: kangaroo-like hopping rodents of southern and eastern Africa.
- Crested porcupines: among the heaviest rodents. See porcupine facts.
- Cane rats: large grass-eating rodents.
- African giant pouched rats: trained to detect landmines and tuberculosis.
- Gundis: small, rock-dwelling rodents of North Africa.
Asia: Hamsters, Gerbils, and Giants
- Hamsters: Syrian hamsters from western Asia and dwarf hamsters from Central Asia. See Syrian vs dwarf hamster.
- Mongolian gerbils: from the steppes of Mongolia and China. See gerbil care.
- Giant squirrels: colorful tree squirrels of South and Southeast Asia.
- Giant flying squirrels: gliders of Asian forests.
- Bamboo rats: burrowing rodents that feed on bamboo roots.
- Jerboas: hopping desert rodents, including tiny pygmy jerboas.
Europe: Squirrels, Dormice, and Hamsters
- Eurasian red squirrel. See red vs gray vs fox squirrels.
- Dormice: champion hibernators. See dormouse facts.
- European hamster: now critically endangered. See endangered rodents.
- Eurasian beaver: recovering after reintroductions.
- Lemmings and voles: in the north. See voles and lemmings.
Australia: A Surprise Rodent Continent
Australia is famous for marsupials, but it also has native rodents that arrived from Asia over millions of years. They include hopping mice that bound on long hind legs, the rakali (an otter-like water rat), and tree rats. Many Australian rodents have declined sharply due to introduced predators like cats and foxes, and several have gone extinct. The Bramble Cay melomys, from a tiny island off Australia, is considered the first mammal extinction linked to climate change.
Antarctica: No Rodents
Antarctica is the only continent without native rodents. Introduced rats and mice have reached some sub-Antarctic islands, where eradication programs work to remove them. See invasive rodent species.
Rodents That Traveled With People
Brown rats, black rats, and house mice have spread to nearly every corner of the globe with human help, often causing serious ecological problems. Other rodents, like nutria, muskrats, and gray squirrels, were deliberately introduced to new continents.
Why Rodents Differ So Much Between Continents
The rodent families found on each continent reflect deep history. When continents drifted apart or collided, rodent populations were separated or suddenly mixed. South America was an island continent for tens of millions of years, allowing its cavy-like rodents to evolve in isolation into forms found nowhere else. When the Isthmus of Panama connected North and South America a few million years ago, porcupines and capybara relatives moved north, while mouse-like rodents moved south and diversified rapidly. Australia’s native rodents arrived much later, island-hopping from Asia, and evolved alongside marsupials.
Climate and habitat also matter. Deserts in North America, Africa, and Asia have each produced hopping, seed-eating rodents, such as kangaroo rats, jerboas, and gerbils, that look and behave similarly even though they’re not closely related. This pattern, called convergent evolution, shows how similar environments can shape different animals in similar ways.
Rodents in Extreme Environments
- Arctic tundra: lemmings and voles live under the snow all winter.
- High mountains: chinchillas, viscachas, and marmots cope with cold and thin air.
- Hot deserts: kangaroo rats and gerbils survive with little or no drinking water.
- Underground: naked mole-rats live in low-oxygen tunnels.
- Wetlands: capybaras, beavers, and muskrats are built for life in water.
See types of rodents and our rodent size comparison for more.
Island Rodents
Islands are home to many unique rodents, from the hutias of the Caribbean to cloud rats of the Philippines and giant rats of some Indonesian islands. Island species often have small ranges and are especially vulnerable to habitat loss and invasive predators, so many are threatened. Conservation of island rodents often goes hand in hand with removing invasive rats and cats.
Rodents Close to Home
Wherever you live, there are probably native rodents nearby. Learning which species share your region, from squirrels in the park to voles in the meadow, is a great way to appreciate local wildlife.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which continent has the most rodent species?
Asia, Africa, and South America all have very high rodent diversity, with South America especially notable for its unique cavy-like rodents.
Are there rodents in Antarctica?
No native rodents live in Antarctica.
Does Australia have native rodents?
Yes, including hopping mice and the rakali, or water rat.
Where do capybaras live?
In South America, near water, in every country except Chile.