What are the different species of rats called? - briefly
Common rat species include the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), the black rat (Rattus rattus), the Polynesian rat (Rattus exulans), the Himalayan field rat (Rattus nitidus), and the desert rat (Rattus argentiventer). Each occupies distinct geographic ranges and habitats.
What are the different species of rats called? - in detail
Rats belong to the family Muridae and are divided into several distinct species, each recognized by a scientific name and a widely used common name.
The most widely distributed species include:
- Rattus norvegicus – brown rat, also called the Norway or sewer rat.
- Rattus rattus – black rat, also known as the ship or roof rat.
- Rattus exulans – Polynesian rat, often referred to as the Pacific rat.
- Rattus argentiventer – rice-field rat, common in Southeast Asian agricultural areas.
- Rattus tanezumi – Asian house rat, prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia.
- Rattus losea – Indochinese forest rat, inhabiting forested habitats of mainland Southeast Asia.
- Rattus fuscipes – bush rat, native to Australia’s eastern woodlands.
- Rattus leucopus – Cape York rat, found in northern Queensland, Australia.
- Rattus norvegicus albus – albino variant of the brown rat, occasionally reported in laboratory colonies.
Less common but taxonomically distinct members include:
- Rattus niobe – broad-footed rat, restricted to the Philippines.
- Rattus everetti – Everett’s giant rat, endemic to the islands of Borneo and Sulawesi.
- Rattus timorensis – Timor rat, native to the island of Timor.
- Rattus praetor – large New Guinea rat, occurring throughout New Guinea and neighboring islands.
- Rattus simalurensis – Simalur rat, found on the Simalur archipelago in Indonesia.
These species differ in morphology, habitat preference, and geographic range, but all share the characteristic rodent dentition and reproductive traits of the genus. Scientific literature classifies them based on genetic analyses, skull measurements, and ecological niches, providing a comprehensive framework for identification and study.