What is the term for a large rat? - briefly
The common name for an unusually large rat is “giant rat.” Taxonomically, the largest widespread species is the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus).
What is the term for a large rat? - in detail
The commonly used designation for a sizable rodent belonging to the genus Rattus is the brown rat (also known as the Norwegian rat, Rattus norvegicus). It is the largest species of rat encountered in urban and rural environments.
The brown rat differs from smaller relatives in several measurable ways:
- Body length: 20–25 cm (head‑to‑base), with a tail of comparable length.
- Weight: 250–500 g, occasionally exceeding 600 g in well‑fed populations.
- Skull and dental structure: Robust skull, larger incisors, and more pronounced molar crowns.
- Fur coloration: Coarse, brownish‑gray dorsal pelage with a lighter ventral side.
Ecologically, the species thrives in temperate zones, inhabiting sewers, basements, agricultural storage facilities, and riverbanks. Its adaptability to human‑altered habitats contributes to its status as a pervasive pest. Reproductive capacity is high: females can produce up to seven litters per year, each containing 5–12 offspring, facilitating rapid population growth.
Taxonomically, the brown rat belongs to:
- Order: Rodentia
- Family: Muridae
- Genus: Rattus
- Species: R. norvegicus
The term “giant rat” is occasionally applied to exotic species such as the Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) or the cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus), but these are distinct from the standard large urban rat and are not synonymous with the brown rat. In scientific and pest‑control contexts, “brown rat” remains the precise term for the large, widely distributed Rattus species.