Spatial patterns and determinants of species richness in complex geographical regions are important subjects of current biogeography and biodiversity conservation research. Glires are small herbivorous mammal species with limited migratory ability that may serve as an indicator of biodiversity and ecosystems. Herein, we aimed to evaluate how multiple ecological hypotheses could explain the species richness patterns of glires in China. Initially, we constructed a mapping grid of 80 × 80 km² squares which covered China’s land mass and mapped the distribution ranges of the 237 glires species that had recorded. The glires taxa were separated into three response variables based on their distribution: (a) all species, (b) non-endemic species, and (c) endemic species. The species richness patterns of the response variables were evaluated using four predictor sets: (a) hydrothermal characteristics, (b) climatic seasonality, (c) habitat heterogeneity, and (d) human factors. We performed regression tree analysis, multiple linear regression analysis, and variation partitioning analyses to determine the effects of predictors on spatial species patterns. The results showed that the distribution pattern of species richness was the highest in the Hengduan Mountains and surrounding areas in southwest China. However, only a few endemic species adapted to high-latitude environments. It was found that there are differences in the determinants between non-endemic and endemic species. Habitat heterogeneity was the most influential determinant for the distribution patterns of non-endemic species richness. Climatic seasonality was the best predictor to determine the richness distribution pattern of endemic species, whereas this was least affected by human factors. Furthermore, it should be noted, that hydrothermal characteristics were not strong predictors of richness patterns for all or non-endemic species, which may be due to the fact that there are also more species in some areas with less precipitation or energy. Therefore, glires are likely to persist in areas with characteristics of high habitat heterogeneity and stable climate.

Through the collection and arrangement of literature and books, a total of 21,089 effective distribution points of 237 species of 2 orders, 14 families and 84 genera of glires with geographic distribution information were recorded. There are 67 endemic and 170 non-endemic species. Based on the species distribution data, the distribution ranges of 237 species were mapped. we divided the Chinese territory into grid cell operating units of 80 × 80 km² to eliminate the influence of area on species distribution patterns. Finally, the distribution map of 237 species was superimposed on the grid map, and the number of species appearing in a single grid cell was counted to obtain the species richness distribution map. The number of species in each grid cell represents the species richness. The data represented here is the species richness of each grid cell including the longitude and latitude of a grid. Numerical One (1) denotes the presence of species while zero (0) is the absence of species in the grid.