What does a plague rat look like? - briefly
A plague rat usually presents as a medium‑to‑large rodent with coarse, dark brown or black fur, a thin, gaunt body, and conspicuously sharp, often blood‑stained, teeth and claws. Its eyes are sunken, ears ragged, and the animal is commonly laden with fleas or other ectoparasites that carry Yersinia pestis.
What does a plague rat look like? - in detail
A plague‑carrying rat is typically a medium‑sized rodent, weighing 200–300 g and measuring 20–25 cm from nose to base of tail. The body is covered with coarse, brown‑gray fur that may appear mottled when the animal is dirty or ill. The dorsal coat is denser than the ventral side, which is lighter, often creamy or pale gray.
Key visual traits include:
- Head: Broad skull with a blunt muzzle; eyes are small, dark, and set relatively close together.
- Ears: Rounded, hairless, and proportionally large, often showing signs of crusted debris or mite infestation.
- Whiskers: Long, stiff vibrissae extending well beyond the snout, aiding navigation in low‑light environments.
- Tail: Long, hairless, and scaly, typically longer than the body length; may exhibit bruising or ulceration in infected individuals.
- Limbs: Short, sturdy forepaws with sharp claws; hind feet are slightly longer, facilitating quick sprinting.
- Skin: Thin, pinkish under the fur; may display petechiae, bruises, or necrotic spots when the animal is heavily infected.
Additional indicators of a plague vector:
- Behavioral signs: Lethargy, loss of appetite, and uncoordinated movement.
- Physical condition: Emaciation, rough coat, and a strong, unpleasant odor from bacterial by‑products.
- External parasites: Heavy flea loads, especially Xenopsylla cheopis, visible as tiny dark specks moving across the fur.
These characteristics collectively enable identification of a rat likely to harbor Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for plague.