What breeds of rats exist? - briefly
Common domesticated rat varieties include the standard hooded, albino, and Rex, while specialty types such as Dumbo, hairless, and manx are also recognized. These classifications depend on coat color, fur length, ear placement, and tail characteristics.
What breeds of rats exist? - in detail
Rats are classified into several distinct groups that differ in origin, appearance, and typical use.
Pet varieties, often called fancy rats, include the standard hooded pattern, solid colors such as black, white, or brown, and patterned types like agouti, sable, and rex. These domestic lines are bred for temperament, coat texture, and color, and they descend from the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus).
Laboratory strains are developed for scientific research. Prominent examples are:
- Sprague‑Dawley: albino, large‑bodied, frequently employed in toxicology and pharmacology.
- Wistar: albino, known for rapid growth and high fertility, used in neurology and genetics.
- Long‑Evans: pigmented, valued for behavioral studies because of robust visual acuity.
- Fischer 344: inbred, prone to certain cancers, serving oncology investigations.
- Brown Norway: pigmented, utilized in immunology and aging research.
Wild species encompass several globally distributed rats. The most common are:
- Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus): robust, brown‑gray coat, thrives in urban sewers and fields.
- Black rat (Rattus rattus): slender, dark fur, prefers higher elevations and attics.
- Roof rat (Rattus rattus): variant of the black rat, frequently found in tropical roofs and warehouses.
- Asian house rat (Rattus tanezumi): smaller, grayish, inhabits Southeast Asian villages and rice fields.
Specialized strains derived from laboratory lines include the Dahl salt‑sensitive rat, used to study hypertension, and the Zucker rat, a model for obesity research. Each breed possesses unique genetic markers, physiological traits, and behavioral tendencies that make it suitable for particular applications, whether as a companion animal or a research subject.