Which mammal is not a rodent?

Which mammal is not a rodent?

• A. Beaver
• B. Flying squirrel
• C. Cottontail rabbit
• D. Deer mouse

Answer: (C)

Rabbits are not rodents; they belong to a different mammal group called lagomorphs. A reliable way to tell them apart is their teeth. Rodents have a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each jaw and no canine teeth. Lagomorphs, like rabbits, have two pairs of upper incisor teeth—the front pair plus a small second pair right behind them—along with a noticeable gap before the cheek teeth. Because of this dental pattern, the cottontail rabbit is the non-rodent in the list, while beaver, flying squirrel, and deer mouse are rodents.

Rabbits are not rodents; they belong to a different mammal group called lagomorphs. A reliable way to tell them apart is their teeth. Rodents have a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each jaw and no canine teeth. Lagomorphs, like rabbits, have two pairs of upper incisor teeth—the front pair plus a small second pair right behind them—along with a noticeable gap before the cheek teeth. Because of this dental pattern, the cottontail rabbit is the non-rodent in the list, while beaver, flying squirrel, and deer mouse are rodents.