ABSTRACT
In a tropical and subtropical region, like the Indian subcontinent, not only the density of rodents in various habitats keep changing but the species composition also changes with time, land use pattern, and due to human actions. Usually all the rodents are incriminated as pests, but the fact is that, fortunately, only a few species, which occur abundantly, inflict losses to standing crops, stored foodgrains, and other commodities. Fortunately, some quantitative data are available pertaining to Indian rodents of economic importance. The mesic rodents are larger in size and have a higher rate of food consumption than the desert rodents. Urbanization has also influenced the composition of rodent populations. In 1910, R. rattus was the predominant rodent in Bombay and the population of Bandicota bengalensis was about 1%. Climatic fluctuations have also been observed to influence rodent species composition in a habitat.
