What does a common rat look like? - briefly
A typical rat has a sleek brown‑gray coat, a long naked tail roughly equal to its body length, a pointed snout, small rounded ears, and sharp front teeth. Its body measures about 20–30 cm, with the tail adding another 15–25 cm.
What does a common rat look like? - in detail
The typical house rat measures 20–25 cm from nose to the base of the tail, with a tail length of 18–25 cm that is scaly, hair‑less, and slightly thinner than the body. Body weight ranges from 250 g to 500 g, with males generally larger than females.
Fur is dense, coarse, and varies from brown‑gray on the dorsal side to lighter, almost white, on the ventral surface. The coat may display a slight sheen and often shows a faint stripe running along the spine. The head is rounded, with a blunt, triangular snout that houses strong incisors extending continuously throughout life. Teeth are orange‑yellow, chisel‑shaped, and lack enamel on the inner surface.
Key facial features include:
- Large, dark eyes set high on the skull, providing a wide field of vision.
- Prominent, hairless ears that are thin, flexible, and proportionally large relative to head size.
- Long, stiff whiskers (vibrissae) extending forward from the muzzle and cheeks, serving as tactile sensors.
Limbs are short but muscular. Forepaws possess five digits, each ending in sharp, curved claws adapted for climbing and digging. Hind feet have four digits with a well‑developed plantar pad that aids in balance and rapid sprinting. The overall body shape is cylindrical, with a sleek, streamlined profile that reduces resistance when moving through narrow passages.
Two species dominate urban environments:
- The brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) exhibits a heavier build, a blunt tail, and a brown‑gray dorsum.
- The black rat (Rattus rattus) is more slender, possesses a longer, tapering tail, and typically displays a darker, almost black coat.
These anatomical details define the appearance of the most common rat encountered in human habitats.