The Nesomyidae are a family of African rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes several subfamilies, all of which are native to either continental Africa or to Madagascar. Included in this family are Malagasy rodents, climbing mice, African rock mice, swamp mice, pouched rats, and the white-tailed rat. Characteristics Nesomyids are small- to medium-sized rodents, with the largest being the size of a rat. Physically, they may resemble mice, rats, voles, or hamsters, depending on the species and subfamily. Their diets vary from fairly strict herbivory to nearly pure insectivory. Their habits are similarly variable, with some species climbing trees, and others burrowing in the ground. They give birth to up to four young after a gestation period around six weeks. Classification Many of these animals were once thought to be related to other groups of muroid rodents, but this African-based clade has been proposed and confirmed on the basis of genetic studies. Such alternate arrangement include the pouched rats in the family Muridae, and the white-tailed rat in the family Cricetidae. Likewise, all members of the Nesomyidae are often placed in the family Muridae along with all other members of the Muroidea. Nesomyids are classified in six subfamilies, 21 genera, and 68 species. FAMILY NESOMYIDAE Subfamily Cricetomyinae - pouched rats Genus Beamys Lesser hamster-rat, Beamys hindei Greater hamster-rat, Beamys major Genus Cricetomys - giant pouched rats Southern giant pouched rat, Cricetomys ansorgei Gambian pouched rat, Cricetomys gambianus Emin's pouched rat, Cricetomys emini Kivu giant pouched rat, Cricetomys kivuensis Genus Saccostomus - pouched mice South African pouched mouse, Saccostomus campestris Mearns's pouched mouse, Saccostomus mearnsi Subfamily Delanymyinae Genus Delanymys Delany's mouse, Delanymys brooksi Subfamily Dendromurinae Genus Dendromus - climbing mice Remarkable climbing mouse, Dendromus insignis Mount Kahuzi climbing mouse, Dendromus kahuziensis Monard's African climbing mouse, Dendromus leucostomus Lovat's climbing mouse, Dendromus lovati Gray climbing mouse, Dendromus melanotis Brants's climbing mouse, Dendromus mesomelas Banana climbing mouse, Dendromus messorius Chestnut climbing mouse, Dendromus mystacalis Kivu climbing mouse, Dendromus nyasae (kivu) Nyika climbing mouse, Dendromus nyikae Cameroon climbing mouse, Dendromus oreas Dendromus ruppi Vernay's climbing mouse, Dendromus vernayi Genus Megadendromus Nikolaus's mouse, Megadendromus nikolausi Genus Dendroprionomys Velvet climbing mouse, Dendroprionomys rousseloti Genus Prionomys Dollman's climbing mouse, Prionomys batesi Genus Malacothrix Gerbil mouse, Malacothrix typica Genus Steatomys - fat mice Bocage's African fat mouse, Steatomys bocagei Northwestern fat mouse, Steatomys caurinus Dainty fat mouse, Steatomys cuppedius Jackson's fat mouse, Steatomys jacksoni