Spalacidae

Spalacidae Temporal range: Early Miocene–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Lesser bamboo rat, Cannomys badius
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Superfamily:	Muroidea
Family:	Spalacidae Gray, 1821
Type genus
Spalax Güldenstädt, 1770
Subfamilies
Spalacinae Myospalacinae Rhizomyinae

The Spalacidae, or spalacids, are a family of rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. They are native to eastern Asia, the Horn of Africa, the Middle East, and southeastern Europe. It includes the blind mole-rats, bamboo rats, mole-rats, and zokors. This family represents the oldest split (excluding perhaps the Platacanthomyidae) in the muroid superfamily, and comprises animals adapted to a subterranean way of life. These rodents were thought to have evolved adaptations to living underground independently until recent genetic studies demonstrated they form a monophyletic group.^{[citation needed]} Members of the Spalacidae are often placed in the family Muridae along with all other members of the Muroidea.