Castorimorpha

North American Beaver (Castor canadensis)

• Biber ( Castoridae )
• Pocket gophers ( Geomyidae )
• Pocket mice ( Heteromyidae )

The Beavers relatives ( Castorimorpha ) are a suborder of rodents ( Rodentia ). In this group, three families are summarized with about 100 species, all living with the exception of the European beaver in the North and Central America:

• The beavers ( Castoridae )
• The pocket gophers ( Geomyidae ) and
• Pocket mice ( Heteromyidae ).

This newly formed subordination was of Carleton and Musser (2005) defined that have redefined the suborders of rodents by morphological and molecular genetic aspects.

While a close family relationship of pocket gophers and mice assumed for quite some time - both groups are summarized as pocket rodents ( Geomyoidea ) - is relatively new assignment to the beavers. While the bag rodents have so far found more in the group of mice relative ( Myomoprha ), the Beavers were asked to squirrel relatives ( Sciuromorpha ). It has long been known that the squirrel relatives thus constitute a paraphyletic group ( ie not all descendants of a common ancestor include ), this new organization is trying to address that concern.

The extinct Eomyidae - of which the glide -capable type Eomys quercyi is best known, are counted in this group.