Rats are rodents that belong to the Rattus genus of the family Muridae. These are the most dominant species on earth. Lots of rat species exist in the world. Most rodents eat plants, but some feed upon animals as well. In general, there are 2 basic rat types, specifically roof rats (black) & Norway rats (brown). Both are thought to have originated in Asia and are now widely spread all over the planet.
Roof Rats
Roof rats (known as Rattus Rattus) are also called black rats and ship rats. These rats are normally black in color, slender, 16-21 cm long and 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 enable them to climb and create nests in higher parts of homes, attics, rafters & crossbeams of buildings.
Norway Rat
The Norway rat is sometimes known as the house rat, brown rat, gray rat, barn rat or wharf rat. It is one of the best-known and is the larger of the two. Rattus norvegicus is their scientific name. 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 & 600 gm. Their nose and muzzle are blunt, and they have a tail shorter than its body. They prefer moist conditions and nest in deep burrows.
These rats breed when they are 3 – 4 months of age. They breed 1 to 13 times a year and produce up to 22 in a litter. Brown rats & black rats eat about the same things. Their diet typically consists of seeds, nuts, grains, veggies, fruits, cereals, meats and invertebrates. They eat about a third of their weight in food everyday.
They contaminate food, carry fatal diseases & damage structures. Some of the diseases potentially fatal to man that spread through rats are plague, salmonella food poisoning, toxoplasmosis and Weil’s disease.
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