In this study, the kidneys of ground squirrel (hibernated and non-hibernated), rabbit and rat were examined macro and micro anatomically. Kidney morphology was investigated by stereo microscopy, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Triple and immunohistochemical staining were performed for light microscopic examinations, cold crushing and takilon injection into the renal arteries were performed for scanning electron microscopic examinations. The course and branching of intrarenal capillaries, morphologic features from glomeruli to foramina papillaria were demonstrated. The location, position, shape, weight and size of the kidneys of the three species studied were determined. Relative medullary thickness (RMT) and kidney index (Ki) values were calculated from the measurements. Based on the RMT values of the three species, it was concluded that they are mammals belonging to the semi-arid and humid habitat category. The number of nephrons with long-segments were high in the kidneys of all three species. Structural findings suggested that the rat may produce more concentrated urine than the ground squirrel and the ground squirrel may produce more concentrated urine than the rabbit. The mean diameter of the renal corpuscles was 112.5 µm in the hiberne ground squirrel, 137.6 µm in the non-hiberne ground squirrel, 138.1 µm in the rabbit and 137.8 µm in the rat. In hibernated ground squirrels, narrowing of the cavum glomeruli and decrease in renal corpuscle diameters were found. In contrast to ground squirrel and rat kidneys, rabbit kidneys showed the presence of species-specific subcapsular glomeruli. Immunohistochemistry (Anti-Nestin antibody) staining and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed the structure of podocytes in detail. Species-specific area cribrosa configurations were detected in the renal papillae of the kidneys we examined. With this study, new renal morphological findings were obtained in ground squirrel, rabbit and rat.