Prehistoric rodent genera

Castoroides (from Latin castor (beaver) and -oides (like)), or the giant beaver, is an extinct genus of enormous, bear-sized beavers that lived in North America during the Pleistocene. Two species are currently recognized, C. dilophidus in the Southeastern United States and C. ohioensis in most of North America. C. leiseyorum was previously described from the Irvingtonian age but is now regarded as an invalid name. All specimens previously described as C. leiseyorum are considered to belong to C. dilophidus.

Canariomys is an extinct genus of rodents (Old World rats and mice) that once existed on the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, part of the Canary Islands, Spain. These giant rats could reach a weight of about . They were herbivores; their diet was based on plant materials, probably soft vegetables such as roots, ferns, and berries, but not grass. C. tamarani were considered herbivores, eating everything plant-like except grass with good digging skills. While C. bravoi were considered as a rat character, because of its large size, with an omnivorous diet with good climbing skills. They were

Boromys is an extinct genus of Cuban rodents in the family Echimyidae. It contains the following species: Oriente cave rat (Boromys offella) Torre's cave rat (Boromys torrei)

Palaeocastor ('ancient beaver') is an extinct genus of beavers that lived in the North American Badlands during the late Oligocene period to early Miocene, 29.5~18.5 million years ago. Palaeocastor was much smaller than modern beavers. There are several species including Palaeocastor fossor, Palaeocastor magnus, Palaeocastor wahlerti, and Palaeocastor peninsulatus. The animals first became known on grounds of their fossilized burrows, the "Devil's corkscrews." ==Biology== thumb|left|P. peninsulates|205x205px Some members of this genus made corkscrew-shaped burrows and tunnels. Like many early

Josephoartigasia is an extinct genus of enormous dinomyid rodent from the Early Pliocene to Early Pleistocene of Uruguay. Its closest living relative is the pacarana. Josephoartigasia is named after Uruguayan national hero José Artigas. It contains two species: J. magna, described in 1966 based on a left mandible, and J. monesi, described in 2008 based on a nearly complete skull. Both are reported from the San José Member of the Raigón Formation by the Barrancas de San Gregorio along Kiyú beach.

thumb | right | alt=A 10cm skull of Phoberomys pattersoni in ventral view | The skull of Phoberomys pattersoni Phoberomys is an extinct genus of rodents. Fossil specimens from the Late Miocene period have been discovered in the Ituzaingó Formation of Argentina, the Solimões Formation of Brazil, the Urumaco Formation at Urumaco in Venezuela, and the Pliocene of Peru.

thumb|left|Paleoart of Neochoerus pinckneyi.

Paramys is an extinct genus of rodents from North America, Europe, and Asia. It is one of the oldest genera of rodents known and probably lived in trees. While the genus name literally means "near a mouse", it coexisted with Thisbemys, a similar rodent, thus yielding a reference to Pyramus and Thisbe.

Telicomys is an extinct genus of rodent from the Solimões Formation, Brazil, South America.

Leithia is an extinct genus of giant dormice from the Pleistocene of the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Sicily. It is considered an example of island gigantism. Leithia melitensis is the largest known species of dormouse, living or extinct, being twice the size of any other known species.

Trogontherium is an extinct genus of Eurasian giant beavers that lived from the Late Pliocene to the Late Pleistocene. Fossils of Trogontherium have been found across northern Eurasia, from Western Europe to China and Siberia.

Eomys is an extinct genus of eomyid rodent from the late Oligocene of France, Germany, Spain, and possibly Turkey. The species Eomys quercyi is the earliest known gliding rodent.

Steneofiber is an extinct genus of beavers from the Miocene. They contain several species of beavers. Amongst them are S.barbouri, S.complexus, S.depereti, S.fossor, S.gradatus, and S.hesperus. Their various species are found all the way from the eastern end of the Iberian peninsula to southern Japan. S.depereti has been found in northwest Germany. thumb|left|Steneofiber esseri at the Gallery of Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy, Paris. These small, 30-cm-long (1-ft-long) creatures probably lived in large freshwater lakes, like present day beavers. A semiaquatic lifestyle is indicated by t

Agathaeromys is an extinct genus of oryzomyine rodents from the Pleistocene of Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. Two species are known, which differ in size and some details of tooth morphology. The larger A. donovani, the type species, is known from hundreds of teeth that are probably 900,000 to 540,000 years old, found in four localities. A. praeuniversitatis, the smaller species, is known from 35 teeth found in a single fossil site, which is probably 540,000 to 230,000 years old.

Eocardia is an extinct genus of rodent from the Early to Middle Miocene of Argentina (Santa Cruz Formation) and Chile, South America. The long creature was related to guinea pigs and the capybara.

Ischyromys is an extinct genus of rodent from North America. thumb|left|Skull

Mylagaulus is an extinct genus of rodents in the family Mylagaulidae. Mylagaulus lived in the Americas during the middle to late Miocene.

thumb|Juvenile

Ailuravus is a genus of prehistoric rodents in the family Ischyromyidae.