What does a gray rat look like? - briefly
A gray rat typically has coarse, slate‑gray fur covering a slender body about 20–30 cm long, a pink or pink‑tinged snout, prominent whiskers, and a hairless, scaly tail roughly equal to its body length. Its ears are small and rounded, and its paws display pink skin with sharp claws.
What does a gray rat look like? - in detail
A gray rat typically measures 20–25 cm in body length, with a tail almost equal to or slightly longer than the torso. The dorsal fur is a uniform, medium‑gray shade, occasionally interspersed with darker hairs that give a subtle mottled appearance. Ventral fur is lighter, ranging from pale gray to off‑white, and is softer than the back coat. The fur is dense, short, and lies close to the skin, providing a sleek silhouette.
The head is proportionally large, featuring a blunt snout, small rounded ears covered with fine hair, and dark, prominent eyes that reflect a reddish‑brown hue. Whiskers extend from the rostral region, long and stiff, aiding navigation in low‑light environments. The nasal septum is slightly pink, visible when the mouth is open.
Limbs are short yet robust. Front paws possess five toes with small, curved claws adapted for digging and climbing. Hind feet are larger, bearing five toes as well, and the claws are more pronounced, facilitating rapid sprints. The tail is hairless, cylindrical, and covered with a thin layer of scales; it functions as a balance organ and is capable of slight twitching.
Key visual characteristics can be summarized:
- Body length: 20–25 cm; tail length: 18–30 cm
- Dorsal coat: medium gray, short, dense
- Ventral coat: pale gray to off‑white, softer texture
- Head: blunt snout, small rounded ears, dark eyes, long whiskers
- Limbs: short, muscular, five‑toed paws, sharp claws
- Tail: hairless, scaly, cylindrical, balance aid
These traits combine to give the animal a compact, agile form, readily identifiable in both urban and rural settings.