What does a female rat look like? - briefly
Female rats have a compact body, pointed snout, and a tail roughly equal in length to the body, covered in short fur that is typically brown, gray, or black. They lack the larger anogenital area and prominent scent glands that distinguish males.
What does a female rat look like? - in detail
Female rats are typically slightly larger than their male counterparts, with body lengths ranging from 6 to 9 cm (excluding the tail) and total lengths of 15 to 20 cm. Their weight varies between 150 and 300 g, depending on age and strain.
The coat can be smooth or coarse, and coloration includes:
- Standard laboratory strains – light pinkish‑white fur with a pale belly.
- Wild‑type (brown) rats – brown to black dorsal fur, lighter ventral side.
- Albino variants – pure white fur, pink eyes, and pink nose.
- Agouti patterns – mixed brown and black hairs creating a speckled appearance.
Sexual dimorphism appears in the genital region. The anogenital distance (space between the anus and the genital opening) is shorter in females, typically less than 2 mm, whereas males have a wider gap. The vulva is located just behind the anus and appears as a small, smooth opening covered by a thin layer of fur.
Tail characteristics are consistent across sexes: hairless, cylindrical, and proportionally long, with a length roughly equal to or slightly longer than the head‑body length. The tail is covered in fine scales and may show slight color variation, often darker at the tip.
Dentition includes continuously growing incisors that are orange‑tinged due to iron deposits. The molars display a characteristic pattern of ridges used for gnawing.
Overall, a female rat presents a compact body, a proportionally long, bare tail, and a short anogenital distance, with coat color determined by genetic strain.