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Black Rat

Black Rat Facts

Size 6.2-9.4 inch (16-24 cm) (body length)
Speed Up to 6.2 mph (10 km/h)
Weight 7-14 oz (200-400 g)
Lifespan 2-5 years
Food Grains, fruit, seeds, roots, mice, fish, invertebrates, eggs
Predators Owls, snakes, raccoons, cats
Habitat All over the world
Order Rodents
Family Murids
Scientific name Rattus
Characteristics Long tail

Main Characteristics

Rats are small rodents. They live almost all over the world but most of the species live in Asia and Australia. There are around 65 species of rats in total. The brown rat and the black rat live wherever humans live.

Black Rat Photo: pocketcanoe/Shutterstock

From here you find facts written by animalfunfacts.net fan L.R.:

Author L.R.The Difference Between Black Rat and Brown Rat

Unlike the brown rat, the black rat is on the skinny side. The black rat’s ears and eyes are proportionately sized and their snouts are very pointy. The brown rat’s tail is shorter than its body, while it’s the other way round for the black rat.


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Habitat and Distribution

How did rats spread across the world? The black rat, or house rat, was spread across the globe on ships. That’s why they’re also called "ship rats"”. They originally lived in warm rocky landscapes in the Himalayas.

Black Rat Photo: Heiko Kiera/Shutterstock

Senses and Abilities

Sense of Smell

Black rats have an exceptional sense of smell. They recognize fellow rats by their smell. They use their beard hairs as an echo sounder. They make a sound and then use their hairs to work out the echo.

Speed

How fast can a black rat run? For their size, rats are real star athletes. They can run at up to 6.2 mph (10 km/h) and keep up with a trained jogger. In theory. Of course, this small animal couldn’t keep up such a high speed for a whole jog. But they would manage 6.2 feet (10 meters) in 3.6 seconds. For their size, this is remarkable.


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Black Rat Photo: Erni/Shutterstock

Life Expectancy

A black rat can live for up to three years. But they sometimes even make it to six.

The Black Rat as a Spreader of Diseases

Sometimes, feral rats suffer from rat fleas, which carried the plague. It can spread to humans (and vice versa). This is how rats spread the plague, and other diseases.

Black Rat Photo: Heiko Kiera/Shutterstock

Fun Facts

Black Rats Are Holy Animals in India

Black rats are considered holy in India, as they are loyal companions and steeds for the Indian god Ganesha.

The facts above wer submitted by animalfunfacts.net fan L.R. Thanks!

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