Sunday 29 April 2007

Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus)

OTHER NAMES: Common Rat, Street Rat, Wharf Rat, Norwegian Rat
Latin Etymology: Rattus ("rat") norvegicus ("of Norway")
Adult Brown Rat (subspecies R. n. norvegicus) at Geddington, Northants - May 2012

Featured Subspecies: Rattus norvegicus norvegicus
Length: 38-50cm  /  Weight: 230g
UK STATUS NOT EVALUTATED IUCN Red List: Least Concern

A very adaptable and highly misunderstood creature - rats a very intelligent and expert survivors that have spread around the world with humans. They can be found in a broad range of habitats, although perhaps the most visible ones are urban ones where they are able to survive using food that humans leave. Originally reaching the UK aboard ships, it displaced the Black Rat which had reached the country first, making the latter more scarce. They were not responsible for the Bubonic Plague, but, may in theory carry other diseases. As with this individual photographed, perhaps the easiest time to see them is when they raid bird tables.

Related Species:
Order: Rodentia 
Family: Muridae 
Genus: Rattus 
SUBSPECIES: R. n. norvegicus, R. n.caraco, R. n. praestans, R. n. primarius, R. n. socer

- Sighting Locations -

UNITED KINGDOM - A common but usually shy resident
 - Seen at various sites including Geddington and Rutland Water


Further Notes: BirdForum Opus, IUCN Red List
RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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