Key to the families of order Rodentia in Jordan

1 Eyes and ear pinna absent (Figure 2A)....................................................... Family Spalacidae

- Eyes and ear pinna present (Figure 2B).................................................................... 2

2 Body covered with long spines (more than 150 mm). Large forms................................ Family Hystricidae

- Body not covered with long spines, small to medium sized forms................................................ 3

3 Tail very thick and bushy.................................................................. Family Sciuridae

- Tail not as above...................................................................................... 4

4 Hind foot long, about 60 mm in length....................................................... Family Dipodidae

- Hind foot not long, about 40 mm in length.................................................................. 5

5 Ckeekteeth 4 (Figure 3A), black stripe passes through the eye...................................... Family Gliridae

- Cheekteeth 3 (Figure 3B), no black stripe passes through the eye................................................ 6

6 Cheekteeth tuberculate in two longitudinal rows (Figure 4A)..................................... Family Cricetidae

- Cheekteeth tuberculate in one or three longitudinal rows (Figure 4B)................................. Family Muridae