Page 16 - Primary Six Notes

- Rodents

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.V
V.\ Rodents or Gnawing mammals are mam-
mals which have well developed incisors used for biting
and chewing rapidly. They don’t have canines and most ro-

dents are herbivores (vegetarians)

Examples include; Rats, squirrels, mice, rabbits, hares, porcu-

pines, guinea pigs and moles.

Characteristic of rodents.

 They have well developed incisor teeth for biting and chew-

ing rapidly.

 They don’t have canine teeth.

 Most gnawing mammals are herbivorous therefore, feed on
plants.

 Most rodents are small in size for easy running very fast.

 Most rodents make holes in soil called burrows for protec-

tion and as a habitat.

 They have sharp strong claws for digging up root crops.

Disadvantages of rodents to crop farmers.

 All rodents are crop pests.

 They destroy farmer’s crops by causing damage to them.

 Some destroy stored harvested crops in the granaries espe-
cially the rats.