Why argue over guinea pigs when ferrets and rabbits are most certainly NOT rodents in any way shape or form!

(Pay attention to the "orders" here... Rodentia is an order...)

Rodents' defining feture is a single pair of rootless incisors and no canines. Ferrets are related to the skunk closely. The dog and cat are cousins. No way are they rodents! (They are "carnivora") Rabbits have two pairs of incisors and a different digestive tract with other features that separate them from rodents. (They are "lagomorpha")

Ferret taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Mustelidae
Subfamily: Mustelinae

Rabbit taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Lagomorpha
Family: Leporidae




Just for kicks/comparison...

Rat/mouse taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Sciurognathi
Family: Muridae
Subfamily: Murinae

Gerbil taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Sciurognathi
Family: Muridae
Subfamily: Gerbillinae

Hamster taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Sciurognathi
Family: Muridae
Subfamily: Cricetinae

Guinea Pig taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Hystricognathi
Family: Caviidae
Subfamily: Caviinae

Chinchilla taxonomy:

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Hystricognathi
Family: Chinchillidae



Courtesy of Animal Diversity Web: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/

Conclusions: Rabbits and ferrets are NOT rodents at all. The others are classified as rodents, but Chinchillas and Guinea Pigs are in a different suborder from the others. (Meaning they aren't as closely related to rats and mice, but do have the shared characteristics of the rodent dentition and other features...)





P.S. Rats are the best rodents... I daresay rabbits are the best lagomorphs. But cats are the best carnivores.