GREGARIOUS GLIRES

Gregarious Glires, acrylic on canvas, 2022. 24" X 31.5"

The glires are a family of mammals consisting of rodents and lagomorphs (rabbits, hares, and pikas). Rodents or gnawing mammals are by far the largest mammal group, comprising of around 1700 species, and almost one of every two mammal species in the world is a rodent. About 75 per cent of rodents are mice and rats. Lagomorphs, or "leaping forms", refer to the family's long, muscular back legs which are ideal for running at high speeds for danger.

There are at least 50 species of flying squirrel, and most species were found in Asia. The southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans, pictured) is one of three species of flying squirrel found in North America. It is found in deciduous and mixed forests in the eastern half of North America. Flying squirrels glide in the air on furry flaps of skin called patagia (singular: patagium) which are stretched between their front and hind legs. Southern flying squirrels are nocturnal and feed on fruit and nuts from trees. 

The black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus, top left) isn't actually a rabbit; it's a species of hare. It is common in the dry deserts of the western United States and Mexico. It is one of the largest North American hares and live in mixed shrub grasslands with a diversity of plant species. The hares require mixed grasses and shrubs for food, and shrubs or small trees for cover. They use their large ears to listen for danger and also help to keep their body cool during hot summer days.

The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, top right) is the world's largest rodent. It is a member of the cavy family which also contains guinea pigs, porcupines and beavers. The size of a sheep, the capybara lives in forests near lakes and rivers in South America. It spends much of its time in the water where it feeds on aquatic and waterside vegetation.

The Arctic hare (Lepus arcticus, bottom middle) is highly adapted to living in the Arctic tundra and other icy habitats. It is able to survive in cold climates with shortened ears and limbs, a small nose, fat that makes up close to 20% of its body, and a thick coat of fur. In winter, the Arctic hare has white fur for camouflage in snow and ice. After molting in spring, it gains a brown summer coat.

The Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum, bottom right) is a type of cavy rodent which lives in the shrubby plains of Argentina. It has very long, hare-like legs, feeds on grass and can outrun most predators, sprinting at 45 kilometers per hour (28 mph). It is normally active during the day.

The Malayan porcupine (left, Hystrix brachyura, Malay: Landak Raya) is commonly found in south and southeast Asia. It is a member of the Old World (Afro-Eurasian) porcupine family, which spend most of their lives on the ground. At night, the porcupine forages for food on the forest floor, which includes fruits, berries and roots. Porcupines cannot "shoot" their quills at enemies but instead the quills break off after penetrating an enemy's skin.

The Himalayan pika (Ochotona himalayana, middle) is a member of the pika family, a family of lagomorphs which resemble small, dumpy rabbits with shorter ears and legs. It lives in the mountainous regions of Tibet and the Himalayas. It is also one of the highest-living mammals, living in altitudes of more than 6000 meters. Pikas feed on a wide range of plants, mostly flowers, grasses and young stems.

The long-tailed chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera, right) is one of the two species of chinchilla and a member of the cavy family. It is found in the Andes Mountains in South America, where it lives in multi-family groups of about 50 to 100 individuals. They eat almost any kind of plant food. The fur of a chinchilla, the finest and softest of any mammal, helps keep the animal warm in the cold winter season. Chinchillas are also commonly kept as pets.

The American beaver (Castor canadensis, left) has webbed feet which enables it to live a water-based life. Beavers gnaw through tree trunks with their long incisor teeth to feed on the soft, sap-rich bark. They also use logs and branches to build dams across a stream and lodges at pools that are formed by the river water that passes through the dams. The beaver has a flat, scaly, paddle-like tail which it uses as a rudder for steering.

The greater Egyptian jerboa (Jaculus orientalis, top right) is a long-tailed hopping rodent which lives in the Sahara and Arabian deserts. It has huge back feet that work like sand shoes, preventing it from sinking into the desert sand. When chased, jerboas can run at up to 24 km/h (15 mph).

The Norway lemming (Lemmus lemmus, bottom right) is a common species of lemming found in northern Europe, particularly in Norway, Sweden and Finland. Lemmings have blunt noses, small ears, rounded bodies and thick fur. These features help them stay warm during the winter. They live among grasses and bushes on the ground and feed on roots and shoots.