What is Nesomyidae?
{{Taxobox | name = Nesomyids | fossil_range = Middle [[Miocene]] - Recent | image = malagasy.giant.rat.arp.jpg | image_width = 250px | image_caption = ''[[Hypogeomys antimena]]'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordata]] | classis = [[Mammal]]ia | ordo = [[Rodent]]ia | superfamilia = [[Muroidea]] | familia = '''Nesomyidae''' | familia_authority = Major, 1897 | subdivision_ranks = [[Subfamily (biology)|Subfamilies]] | subdivision = [[Cricetomyinae]]<br> [[Delanymyinae]]<br> [[Dendromurinae]]<br> [[Mystromyinae]]<br> [[Nesomyinae]]<br> [[Petromyscinae]] }} '''Nesomyidae''' is a [[Family (biology)|family]] of [[Africa]]n [[rodent]]s in the large and complicated superfamily [[Muroidea]]. It includes many [[subfamilies]], which all live in Africa. [[Nesomyinae|Malagasy rats and mice]], [[Dendromurinae|climbing mice]], [[Petromyscus|African rock mice]], [[Delanymys|swamp mice]], [[Cricetomyinae|pouched rats]], and the [[Mystromys albicaudatus|white-tailed rat]] are in this family. ==Characteristics== Nesomyids are small to medium rodents, and the largest is the size of a [[rat]]. They may look like [[mouse|mice]], [[rat]]s, [[vole]]s, or [[hamster]]s, depending on the species and subfamily. They can either eat plant and meat totally, or insects totally. Their habits are also different, with some species climbing trees, and others digging holes in the ground to hide. They can give birth to the most four babies after being in the mother's womb for about six weeks. ==Classification== Many of these animals were once thought to be related to other groups of [[Muroidea|muroid]] [[rodent]]s, but this African-based group has been confirmed to be different from the other muroids based on [[genetics|genetic]] studies. Still, all members of the Nesomyidae are placed in the family [[Muridae]] along with all other members of the [[Muroidea]]. The Nesomyids are classified in 5 [[subfamily|subfamilies]], 22 [[genus|genera]] and 55 [[species]]. ==Subfamilies== *[[Cricetomyinae]] (pouched rats) *[[Delanymyinae]] (Delany'