Rodents Temporal range: Early Paleocene–Recent PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Indian palm squirrel (Funambulus palmarum)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Infraclass:	Eutheria
Magnorder:	Boreoeutheria
Superorder:	Euarchontoglires
Order:	Rodentia Bowdich, 1821
Suborders
Sciuromorpha Castorimorpha Myomorpha Anomaluromorpha Hystricomorpha
Combined range of all rodent species

Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing.^[1][2]

Forty percent of mammal species are rodents, and they are found in vast numbers on all continents other than Antarctica. Common rodents include mice, rats, squirrels, porcupines, beavers, guinea pigs, and hamsters.^[1] Rodents have sharp incisors they use to gnaw wood, break into food, and bite predators. Most rodents eat seeds or plants, though some have more varied diets. Some species have historically been pests, eating seeds stored by people^[3] and spreading disease.^[4]

Size and range of order[link]

In terms of number of species—although not necessarily in terms of number of organisms (population) or biomass—rodents make up the largest order of mammals. There are about 2,277 species of rodents (Wilson and Reeder, 2005), with over 40 percent of mammalian species belonging to the order.^[5] Their success is probably due to their small size, short breeding cycle, and ability to gnaw and eat a wide variety of foods. (Lambert, 2000)

Members of nonrodent orders, such as Chiroptera (bats), Scandentia (treeshrews), Soricomorpha (shrews and moles), Lagomorpha (hares, rabbits and pikas) and mustelid carnivores such as weasels and mink, are sometimes confused with rodents.^{[citation needed]}

Rodents are found in vast numbers on all continents except Antarctica, most islands, and in all habitats except oceans. They are the only nonvolant, nonmarine placental order—and in particular are the only placental order besides bats and pinnipeds—to have reached Australia without human introduction.

Characteristics[link]

Dentition[link]

Typical rodent tooth system

All rodents share the characteristic of dentition highly specialised for gnawing. This specialisation gives rodents their name from the Latin, rodere, to gnaw and, dentis, of tooth.^[6] All rodents have a single pair of upper and a single pair of lower incisors, followed by a gap (diastema), and then one or more molars or premolars. Rodent incisors grow continuously and must be kept worn down by gnawing. Their anterior and lateral surfaces are covered with enamel, but the posterior surface is exposed dentine. During gnawing, the incisors grind against each other, wearing away the softer dentine, leaving the enamel edge as the blade of a chisel.^[7] This ‘self-sharpening’ system is very effective and is one of the keys to the enormous success of rodents.^[8] Rodents lack canines, and have a diastema between their incisors and premolars. They use their teeth for cutting wood, biting through the skin of fruit, or for defense. Nearly all rodents feed on plants, seeds in particular, but a few exceptions eat insects (grasshopper mouse, Onychomys leucogaster) or fish. Some squirrels are known to eat passerine birds, such as cardinals and blue jays.

Size[link]

The capybara, the largest living rodent, can weigh up to 91 kg (200 lb).

Many rodents are small; the tiny African pygmy mouse, Mus minutoides, can be as small as 6 cm (2.4 in) in length and 7 g (0.25 oz) in weight at maturity, and the Baluchistan pygmy jerboa, Salpingotulus michaelis, is of roughly similar or slightly smaller dimensions. On the other hand, the largest extant rodent, the capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, usually weighs up to 65 kg (140 lb), with exceptional specimens weighing up to 91 kg (200 lb).^[9] Several enormous rodents are known from the fossil record, the largest known being Josephoartigasia monesi, which is estimated to have typically weighed about 1,000 kg (2,200 lb), and possibly up to 1,534 kg (3,380 lb)^[10] or 2,586 kg (5,700 lb) in large individuals.^[11]

Ecology and use by humans[link]

Rodents are important in many ecosystems because they reproduce rapidly, and can function as food sources for predators, mechanisms for seed dispersal, and disease vectors. Humans use rodents as a source of fur, as pets, as model organisms in animal testing, for food, and even for detecting land mines.^[12] Due to the wide diversity of their characteristics, some of which are considered uncommon or unique amongst mammals, rodents are used widely in research.^[13] For example, the naked mole rat, Heterocephalus glaber, is the only known mammal that is poikilothermic and also does not produce the neurotransmitter substance P; it is therefore used in studies on thermoregulation and pain.

Evolution[link]

Masillamys sp. fossil from the Messel Pit fossil site

The fossil record of rodent-like mammals begins shortly after the extinction of the nonavian dinosaurs 65 million years ago, as early as the Paleocene. Some molecular clock data, however, suggest modern rodents (members of the order Rodentia) already appeared in the late Cretaceous, although other molecular divergence estimations are in agreement with the fossil record.^[14][15] By the end of the Eocene epoch, relatives of beavers, dormice, squirrels, and other groups appeared in the fossil record. They originated in Laurasia, the supercontinent composed of today's North America, Europe, and Asia. Some species colonized Africa, giving rise to the earliest hystricognaths. From Africa, hystricognaths rafted to South America, an isolated continent during the Oligocene and Miocene epochs. By the Miocene, Africa collided with Asia, allowing rodents such as porcupines to spread into Eurasia. During the Pliocene, rodent fossils appeared in Australia. Although marsupials are the most prominent mammals in Australia, rodents now make up almost 25% of the continent's mammal species. Meanwhile, the Americas became joined by the Isthmus of Panama, and some rodents participated in the resulting Great American Interchange; sigmodontines surged southward and caviomorphs headed north.

Some prehistoric rodents

Castoroides, a giant beaver

Ceratogaulus, a horned burrowing rodent

Spelaeomys, a rat that grew to a large size on the island of Flores

Giant hutias, a group of rodents once found in the West Indies

Ischyromys, a primitive, squirrel-like rodent

Leithia, a giant dormouse

Neochoerus pinckneyi, a large North American capybara that weighed 100 kg (220 lb)

Josephoartigasia monesi, the largest known rodent, with an estimated weight of very roughly 1,000 kg (2,200 lb)

Phoberomys pattersoni, the second-largest known rodent, with an estimated weight of 700 kg (1,500 lb)

Telicomys, another giant South American rodent

Classification[link]

About 2/3 of rodent species are in the superfamily Muroidea (rats, mice, and related species). The families Muridae (blue) and Cricetidae (red) make up the bulk of the Muroidea.

Standard classification[link]

The rodents are part of the clades Glires (along with lagomorphs), Euarchontoglires (along with lagomorphs, primates, treeshrews, and colugos), and Boreoeutheria (along with most other placental mammals). The order Rodentia may be divided into suborders, infraorders, superfamilies and families.

Classification scheme:

ORDER RODENTIA (from Latin, rodere, to gnaw)

• Suborder Anomaluromorpha

  • Family Anomaluridae: scaly-tailed squirrels
  • Family Pedetidae: springhares

• Suborder Castorimorpha

  • Superfamily Castoroidea
    • Family Castoridae: beavers
  • Superfamily Geomyoidea
    • Family Geomyidae: pocket gophers (true gophers)
    • Family Heteromyidae: kangaroo rats and kangaroo mice

• Suborder Hystricomorpha

  • Family incertae sedis Diatomyidae: Laotian rock rat

  • Infraorder Ctenodactylomorphi

    • Family Ctenodactylidae: gundis

  • Infraorder Hystricognathi

    • Family Bathyergidae: African mole rats
    • Family Hystricidae: Old World porcupines
    • Family Petromuridae: dassie rat
    • Family Thryonomyidae: cane rats

    • Parvorder Caviomorpha
      • Family †Heptaxodontidae: giant hutias
      • Family Abrocomidae: chinchilla rats
      • Family Capromyidae: hutias
      • Family Caviidae: cavies, including guinea pigs and the capybara
      • Family Chinchillidae: chinchillas and viscachas
      • Family Ctenomyidae: tuco-tucos
      • Family Dasyproctidae: agoutis
      • Family Cuniculidae: pacas
      • Family Dinomyidae: pacaranas
      • Family Echimyidae: spiny rats
      • Family Erethizontidae: New World porcupines
      • Family Myocastoridae: nutria, coypu
      • Family Octodontidae: octodonts
• Suborder Myomorpha

  • Superfamily Dipodoidea
    • Family Dipodidae: jerboas and jumping mice
  • Superfamily Muroidea
    • Family Calomyscidae: mouse-like hamsters
    • Family Cricetidae: hamsters, New World rats and mice, voles
    • Family Muridae: true mice and rats, gerbils, spiny mice, crested rat
    • Family Nesomyidae: climbing mice, rock mice, white-tailed rat, Malagasy rats and mice
    • Family Platacanthomyidae: spiny dormice
    • Family Spalacidae: mole rats, bamboo rats, and zokors

• Suborder Sciuromorpha

  • Family Aplodontiidae: mountain beaver
  • Family Gliridae (also Myoxidae, Muscardinidae): dormice
  • Family Sciuridae: squirrels, including chipmunks, prairie dogs, & marmots

Alternative classifications[link]

The above taxonomy uses the shape of the lower jaw (sciurognath or hystricognath) as the primary character. This is the most commonly used approach for dividing the order into suborders. Many older references emphasize the zygomasseteric system (suborders Protrogomorpha, Sciuromorpha, Hystricomorpha, and Myomorpha).

Several molecular phylogenetic studies have used gene sequences to determine the relationships among rodents, but these studies have yet to produce a single, consistent and well-supported taxonomy. Some clades have been consistently produced, such as:

• Ctenohystrica contains:
  • Ctenodactylidae (gundis)
  • Hystricognathi containing:
    • Hystricidae
    • An unnamed clade containing:
      • Phiomorpha
      • Caviomorpha

• An unnamed clade containing:
  • Gliridae
  • Sciuroidea containing:
    • Aplodontiidae
    • Sciuridae

• Myodonta includes:
  • Dipodoidea
  • Muroidea

The positions of the Castoridae, Geomyoidea, Anomaluridae, and Pedetidae are still being debated.

Monophyly or polyphyly?[link]

In 1991, a paper submitted to Nature proposed that caviomorphs should be reclassified as a separate order (similar to Lagomorpha), based on an analysis of the amino acid sequences of guinea pig proteins.^[16] This hypothesis was refined in a 1992 paper, which asserted the possibility that caviomorphs may have diverged from myomorphs prior to later divergences of Myomorpha; this would mean caviomorphs, or possibly hystricomorphs, would be moved out of the rodent classification into a separate order.^[17] A minority scientific opinion briefly emerged arguing that guinea pigs, degus, and other caviomorphs are not rodents,^[18][19] while several papers were put forward in support of rodent monophyly.^[20][21][22] Subsequent studies published since 2002, using wider taxon and gene samples, have restored consensus among mammalian biologists that the order Rodentia is monophyletic.^[23][24]

References[link]

Further reading[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Rodentia

Wikispecies has information related to: Rodentia

• Adkins RM, Gelke R. M. E. L., Rowe D., Honeycutt R. L. (2001). "Molecular phylogeny and divergence time estimates for major rodent groups: Evidence from multiple genes". Molecular Biology and Evolution 18 (5): 777–791. PMID 11319262. 
• Carleton, M. D. and G. G. Musser. 2005. "Order Rodentia," pp. 745–752 in Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.
• David Lambert and the Diagram Group. The Field Guide to Prehistoric Life. New York: Facts on File Publications, 1985. ISBN 0-8160-1125-7
• Leung, LKP; Cox, Peter G.; Jahn, Gary C.; Nugent, Robert (2002). "Evaluating rodent management with Cambodian rice farmers". Cambodian Journal of Agriculture 5: 21–26. 
• McKenna, Malcolm C., and Bell, Susan K. 1997. Classification of Mammals Above the Species Level. Columbia University Press, New York, 631 pp. ISBN 0-231-11013-8
• Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, Vol. 2. Johns Hopkins University Press, London.
• Steppan, S. J.; Adkins, R. A.; Anderson, J. (2004). "Phylogeny and divergence date estimates of rapid radiations in muroid rodents based on multiple nuclear genes". Systematic Biology 53 (4): 533–553. DOI:10.1080/10635150490468701. PMID 15371245. 
• University of California Museum of Paleontology (UCMP). 2007 "Rodentia". [1]
• Wilson, D. E. and D. M. Reeder, eds. 2005. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore.

External links[link]

• Website on African rodentia
• Rodent Photos
• Rodent Pests chapter in United States Environmental Protection Agency‎ and University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences National Public Health Pesticide Applicator Training Manual
• Can Rodents be trained not to gnaw?

Tony Hawk

Hawk in November 2006
Personal information
Full name	Anthony Frank Tony Hawk
Nickname(s)	The Birdman
Born	(1968-05-12) May 12, 1968 (age 44) Carlsbad, California, United States
Height	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg)
Sport
Country	United States
Sport	Skateboarding
Medal record Summer X Games medal record Competitor for  United States Gold 1995 Rhode Island Vert Gold 1997 San Diego Vert Gold 1997 San Diego Vert Doubles Gold 1998 San Diego Vert Doubles Gold 1999 San Francisco Vert Doubles Gold 1999 San Francisco Vert Best Trick Gold 2000 San Francisco Vert Doubles Gold 2001 Philadelphia Vert Doubles Gold 2002 Philadelphia Vert Doubles Silver 1995 Rhode Island Park Silver 1996 Rhode Island Vert Silver 2001 Philadelphia Vert Best Trick Bronze 1998 San Diego Vert Bronze 1999 San Francisco Vert

Anthony Frank "Tony" Hawk (born May 12, 1968), nicknamed "The Birdman" is an American professional skateboarder and actor. Hawk gained significant fame for completing the first 900 as well as his licensed video game titles distributed by Activision. He is widely considered one of the most successful and influential pioneers of modern vertical skateboarding.^[1]

Raised in San Diego, California, Hawk was described as being "hyperactive" as a child. His parents supported his skateboarding because it served as an outlet for his excessive energy, and as Hawk's skills developed, he became a professional skateboarder at age fourteen. In 1999, he became the first skater to land a 900. In 2002, he created the Boom Boom HuckJam, an extreme sports exhibition and tour which launched in Las Vegas.

Throughout his career, Hawk has made numerous appearances in films and other media, as well as his own series of video games. He has also been involved in various philanthropic activities including his own Tony Hawk Foundation which helps build skateparks in underprivileged areas, and also including collaborations with other athletes in the charity Athletes for Hope.

Early life[link]

Hawk was born in Carlsbad, California, to, Frank Peter Rupert Hawk. ^[2][3] When Hawk was young, he was described as being "hyperactive,"^[3] and his mother says that he was "so hard on himself and expected himself to do so many things."^[1] One time, Tony struck out in baseball and was so distraught that he hid in a ravine and had to be "physically coaxed out" by his father. His frustration with himself was so harsh that his parents had him psychologically evaluated at school. The results were that Tony was "gifted," and school advisors recommended placing him in advanced classes.^[1]

Hawk attended Jean Farb Middle School from 1980 to 1981, and recently went back there for the show "Homecoming" where he set up a ramp and did a demonstration.

He turned pro by the age of 14^[1] and was the National Skateboard Association world champion for 12 consecutive years.

The 900[link]

On July 27, 1999, Hawk was the first skater to land a 900. He successfully landed the trick, which involves completing two-and-a-half revolutions with the skateboard, on the eleventh attempt. After completing the trick, he commented, "This is the best day of my life."^[4] Nearly 12 years later Hawk was still able to land his famous 900 and posted a video of the trick via his Twitter account stating "I'm 42 and I did a 900 today."^[5]

Endorsements[link]

Boom Boom HuckJam[link]

In 1998, Tony Hawk started freestyle motocross, skateboarding, and BMX with a show in Las Vegas and then on to 31 cities around the USA and eventually to Six Flags amusement parks.^[6]

Video Game Series[link]

A video game series based on his skateboarding debuted in 1999. Since then, the series has spawned 16 titles, including main series titles, spin-offs, and repackages. The latest game of the series is the Tony Hawk: Ride, which involves riding on a skateboard-shaped controller.

Hawk's role in the series was usurped by customizable player characters in later installments,^[7] but he has remained a prominent character. In the 2003 game Tony Hawk's Underground, he is a minor non-player character whom the player meets in Tampa, Florida and skates against. Impressed with the player's skills, Hawk grants them entry into a skate competition.^[8] He later appears in Moscow to teach them the "360 Varial Heelflip Lien" move.^[9] Hawk and other skaters are briefly playable near the end of the game when they skate in a promotional video for the player's skate team,^[10] and in all gameplay modes except the story mode.^[11] He appeared as a kid in the Backyard Sports series Backyard Skateboarding.

Amusement Park Ride[link]

A series of amusement park rides known as Tony Hawk's Big Spin were built in three Six Flags parks in 2007 and 2008. The ride was originally billed as the "total Tony Hawk experience" and was designed to have the look and feel of a giant red-and-black skatepark. It offered a full "extreme sports" experience, with monitors in the queue lines displaying highlights of the history of action sports and a large spinning Tony Hawk figure crowning the ride. The ride was later demolished to make way for a new ride known as Superman: Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Discovery Kingdom) announced to be open in Spring 2012. Additionally, a water park ride called Tony Hawk's Halfpipe was opened at Six Flags America in Bowie, MD.

Film and television appearances[link]

In 1986, Tony Hawk was a featured skateboarder and skater-double for Josh Brolin in the movie Thrashin'. In 1989, he appeared as a skateboarder in Gleaming the Cube. In 2002, he appeared in Neal H. Moritzs's and Christopher Gilcrest's film xXx playing the role of one of Xander Cages stuntman friends, and later in the movie, a skateboarder at a party. In 2004 he played himself in the Australian skateboarding movie Deck Dogz. In 2006, Tony Hawk appeared in a cameo on the film Drake & Josh Go Hollywood as himself; when Drake & Josh steal his car to escape from two crooks with the Geo (iPods) that carry illegal information for counterfeiting money. Tony Hawk also asks for the cops to give Drake & Josh a police escort to Sunset Studios, for a performance on TRL. Hawk has had a cameo in the movie, The New Guy. Hawk appeared in Jackass: The Movie with Mat Hoffman and Bam Margera, skateboarding in a fat suit and Jackass 2, while skateboarding through an obstacle course. Tony appears in the film following the 2006 Gumball Rally, 3000 Miles, again with Bam Margera. He also plays the police officer who arrests Ryan Dunn in the movie Haggard: The Movie. Hawk also made a brief cameo appearance in Lords Of Dogtown as an astronaut, where he is shown comically falling off the skateboard as he is a "rookie". He played himself in an episode of Rocket Power.

Hawk was featured as an extra in the "Weird Al" Yankovic video "Smells like Nirvana". He can be seen sitting in the bleachers during the crowd sweep near Dick Van Patten. He also made a cameo appearance in the Simple Plan music video for "I'm Just a Kid", he can be seen, in a crowd, watching kids at a high school skating..

On television, he has also appeared in Action (TV series), What I Like About You, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, The Tom Green Show, The Naked Brothers Band and Zeke and Luther, So Random, and All That. Hawk was a guest on the kid's show on Nickelodeon, Yo Gabba Gabba.^[12] In 2000, he played himself in Max Steel. He also guest voiced on The Simpsons episode "Barting Over", where he played himself, along with fellow San Diegans Blink-182. In the episode, Hawk lends Homer a new board from his brand where complete rookies are able to perform at the top levels. He ends up having a comical play off with him after Homer begins to show him up. On the PBS Kids show Cyberchase, he guest starred as Slider's long-lost father, Coop. In the CSI: Miami episode "Game Over" he played a game programmer who was murdered. In 2008, he played on Million Dollar Password. Hawk also played on Fox's Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader. Tony Hawk helped design the world famous Canvey Island skate park in 1982 and has hosted Cartoon Network's "Hall of Game" sports award show on February 25, 2011. Hawk was also on the Live-Action/Animated Talk Show Take Two With Phineas and Ferb. Hawk appeared on the internet cooking show Epic Meal Time on October 28, 2011 to celebrate the show's one year anniversary, where he can be seen in the final scene eating a deep-fried pizza cake. He also guest starred on the ABC comedy, Last Man Standing. He also played a skater in Police Academy 4: Citizens On Patrol.

Skate videos[link]

This section requires expansion.

• 1984: The Bones Brigade Video Show (Powell-Peralta)
• 1985: Future Primitive (Powell-Peralta)
• 1987: The Search for Animal Chin (Powell-Peralta)
• 1988: Public Domain (Powell-Peralta)
• 1989: Ban This (Powell-Peralta)
• 1992: Feasters (Birdhouse)
• 1992: Untitled (Birdhouse)
• 1993: Ravers (Birdhouse)
• 1998: The End (Birdhouse)
• 2001: One Step Beyond (Adio)
• 2007: The Beginning (Birdhouse)

Personal life[link]

Hawk with Lhotse Merriam in 2007.

Hawk married Cindy Dunbar in April 1990.^[13] They had a son, Riley Hawk (born December 6, 1992) whom they named for one of Hawk's ancestors.^[14] Riley also skates for Lakai Limited Footwear and Baker Skateboards.^[15] The couple divorced in 1993.^[3] Hawk married Erin Lee in 1996. They had two sons, Spencer (born March 26, 1999) and Keegan (born July 18, 2001). Lee and Hawk divorced in 2004.^[3] Hawk married Lhotse Merriam on January 12, 2006, on the island of Tavarua, Fiji.^[16] The couple's first child, a daughter named Kadence Clover Hawk, was born on June 30, 2008. The couple announced their divorce on February 7, 2011.^[17]

Tony launched the Tony Hawk Foundation, which has given away more than $3.4 million to help build well over 400 skateparks around the U.S.A. The Foundation supports projects in low income areas and helps underprivileged kids. In 2007, Hawk, Andre Agassi, Muhammad Ali, Lance Armstrong, Warrick Dunn, Jeff Gordon, Mia Hamm, Andrea Jaeger, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Mario Lemieux, Alonzo Mourning and Cal Ripken, Jr. founded the charity Athletes for Hope^[18] which helps professional athletes get involved in charitable causes and aims to inspire all people to volunteer and support their communities.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tony Hawk

• Official website
• tonyhawkfoundation.org
• Tony's Birdhouse Skateboards website
• Tony Hawk at the Internet Movie Database

Pharaoh Overlord is an experimental rock-music band, featuring three members of the Finnish group Circle, Jussi Lehtisalo, Janne Westerlund and Tomi Leppänen. Originally begun as a vehicle to indulge their love of stoner rock, Pharaoh Overlord's output has become more varied, mirroring the development of their sister group. Their 2007 album Live In Suomi Finland features contributions from krautrock pioneer Hans Joachim Irmler.^[1] Julius Jääskeläinen and Pekka Jääskeläinen also appear on that recording, and have played regularly with the band since both in performance and in the studio.

In September 2010, it was announced that Circle/Pharaoh Overlord would be performing the role of artists-in-residence at Dutch rock festival Roadburn Festival 2011.^[2]

Discography[link]

• 2000: Pharaoh Overlord #1, CD (Ektro Records)
• 2003: Pharaoh Overlord #2, CD (No Quarter Records)
• 2004: The Battle Of The Axehammer (Live), CD (Last Visible Dog)
• 2004: Pharaoh Overlord #3, CD (Riot Season)
• 2005: Pharaoh Overlord #4, CD (Ektro Records)
• 2007: Live In Suomi Finland, CD (Vivo Records)
• 2010: Siluurikaudella, CD (Ektro Records)
• 2011: Out Of Darkness, CD (Ektro Records)
• 2011: Horn, LP (Svart Records / Full Contact)
• 2012: Lunar Jetman, CD/LP (Ektro Records)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Pharoah Overlord's myspace page
• Ektro Records