Rat Species
Rats are rodents that belong to the Rattus genus of the family Muridae. These are the most dominant species on earth. There are several species of rats in the world. Most rodents feed on plants, but some eat animals as well. Generally speaking, there are 2 basic types of rats, specifically roof rats (black) & Norway rats (brown). Both are thought to have originated in Asia & are now widely spread throughout the world.
Black Rats
The black rats are sometimes called roof rats & ship rats, scientifically named Rattus Rattus. These rats are commonly black in color, slender, 16-21 cm long & weigh about 80-300 grams. Their nose and muzzle are pointed, and their tail is longer than the head and body. They are called roof rats because they are climbers. Their paws are built to climb & create nestles in higher parts of dwellings, attics, rafters & crossbeams of buildings.
Brown Rat
The brown rat, which is also known as the Norway rat, house rat, gray rat, barn rat, and wharf rat, is one of the best-known & is the larger of the 2. Their scientific name is Rattus norvegicus. Their other name refers to their grayish-brown body, with a lighter colored stomach. A brown rat in full size is 18 to 26 cm long and weighs between 400 and 600 grams. Their nose & muzzle are blunt, and they have a tail shorter than its body. They prefer moist conditions and nest in deep burrows.
At around 3 – 4 months of age, these rats start to breed. They breed 1 to 13 times a year and produce 1 to 22 in a litter. Brown rats and black rats eat about the same things. Their diet typically includes fruits, cereals, meats, seeds, nuts, grains, vegetables and invertebrates. They eat about one-third of their weight in food everyday.
They carry fatal diseases, damage structures and contaminate food. Some of the diseases potentially deadly to man that spread through rats are Weil’s disease, plague, salmonella food poisoning and toxoplasmosis.
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