Small Mammals
Small Mammals are typically characterized as mammals that weigh less than 5 kilograms and do not exceed an adult size greater than 30 centimeters in length, excluding their tail. They belong to various orders such as Rodentia (rats, mice, hamsters), Lagomorpha (rabbits, hares), Eulipotyphla (hedgehogs, shrews), and Chiroptera (bats). Small mammals are commonly kept as pets due to their size, ease of care, and often affordable cost. In the pet trade, they are highly sought after for their unique features, diverse behaviors, and low maintenance requirements compared to larger animals. Despite their small stature, small mammals play crucial roles in ecosystems as seed dispersers, pollinators, and predators.