Rats are rodents that belong to the Rattus genus of the family Muridae. These are the most dominant species on earth. There are several species of rats in the world. Most rodents are herbivorous, but some are omnivorous. In general, there are two basic rat types, specifically roof rats (black) and Norway rats (brown). Both are thought to have originated in Asia & are now widely distributed all over the world.
Ship Rats
Roof rats (known as Rattus Rattus) are also called black rats & ship rats. These rats are usually black in color, slender, 16-21 cm long and weigh about 80-300 grams. Their nose & muzzle are pointed, and their tail is longer than the head and body. As the name suggest, roof rats are climbers. Their paws enable them to climb & make nestles in upper parts of dwellings, attics, rafters and crossbeams of buildings.
Norway Rat
The Norway rat is sometimes known as the house rat, brown rat, gray rat, barn rat or wharf rat. It is one of the best-known & is the larger of the 2. Rattus norvegicus is their scientific name. They are mostly grayish-brown, with a lighter colored stomach. A brown rat in full size is 18 to 26 cm long & weighs between 400 and 600 grams. Their nose and muzzle are blunt, and their tail is shorter than its body. They prefer moist conditions & nest in deep burrows.
These rats breed when they are 3 – 4 months of age. They breed up to 13 times each year & produce up to 22 in each litter. Black rats and brown rats eat about the same things. Their diet mainly consists of vegetables, fruits, cereals, meats, seeds, nuts, grains & invertebrates. They consume about one-third of their weight in food everyday.
They contaminate food, carry deadly diseases & damage structures. Some of the diseases potentially fatal to man that spread through rats are toxoplasmosis, Weil’s disease, plague & salmonella food poisoning.
Learn more about the most effective methods of eradicating rats and other pests from your homes or offices. Visit the Uber Article Directory to get a totally unique version of this article for reprint.
categories: termite,pest-control,pest control,mosquito,pests,bed bug,rat,cockroach,business,ant
