What a rat looks like: photos of domestic and wild rodents

Description of the rodent

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The body length of the rat is from 8 to 30 cm, the length of the tail is either the same as the body length or exceeds it, weight depending on the species is from 40 to 400 g. The body color is predominantly dark gray or gray-brown, yellow is also found , red and orange tones. The toes are very flexible.

For information

Rats belong to the class of mammals, more precisely, to the order of rodents and the family of mice. These rodents can be found in almost every corner of the planet. They even exist on islands that are very far from the mainland. The rat is the largest rodent of the mouse family, but they have significant differences in the anatomical structure of the body. They have an elongated body, a sharp muzzle, voluminous eyes and ears, and sparse hairs on their scaly tail. The skull consists of 6 unpaired and 11 paired bones. It is also divided into two sections: facial and cerebral.

By detecting a rat in a timely manner, you can take effective measures to combat them, which will help avoid the negative consequences of living together

Rat nutritional features

Rats are omnivores, but each species has its own preferences. Some people eat more plant foods, seeds, vegetables, and fruits. Others prefer insects, mollusks, and small invertebrates. For example, the diet of a gray rat always contains animal protein, fish and amphibians, mollusks, small rodents and insectivores. From plant foods, rats feed on seeds, grains, and succulent parts of plants. Near a person they find all available food products, waste, livestock and poultry feed. There are practically no stocks.

A rat consumes 20-25 g of food per day, and 7-10 kg of food per year. Rats endure hunger very hard; without food they die on the 3-4th day. They die even faster in the absence of water. A rat usually drinks 30-35 ml of water per day, 5-10 ml if wet food is available.

Wool standardization

In contrast to the numerous markings, there are not many types of wool at all, and they have long been standardized. “Standard” by its name makes it clear that this type of wool is the most common. It is smooth and looks like gloss. Those animals whose fur is stiffer, denser and coarser are classified as “curly” hair type; all their hair and even their mustache curls.

There is also a “wavy” type, which differs from “curly” only in having softer hair. “Satin” is a type of wool that is more shiny and fine.

In the 2000s, long-haired rats also appeared; they have slightly larger fur than standard ones. There are few other species; rather, they are determined by the absence of hair. Therefore, hairless rats are only decorative and were bred quite recently.

Common types of rat

Gray rat, or pasyuk (Rattus norvegicus)

Body length without tail is 17-25 cm, weight 140-390 g. The tail is shorter than the body, up to 19.5 cm in length. The muzzle is blunt and wide, the ears are small. The color is gray with red in adults. The hair on the abdomen is white with dark bases. Sometimes there are black individuals.

The species is distributed on all continents except Antarctica. Eastern Asia is considered the homeland of the gray rat, from where they passively settled mainly on sea vessels.

Tan Rat (Rattus adustus)

Endemic to the island of Engano, which is located 100 km southwest of Sumatra (Indonesia). Outwardly it resembles a gray rat, but is more red in color.

Kinabuli rat (Rattus baluensis)

The species is found in Malaysia in northern Borneo at altitudes of 1524-3810 m above sea level. Lives in mountain and moss forests. Outwardly similar to a gray rat.

Black rat (Rattus rattus)

Smaller in size than the gray rat. Body length is 15-22 cm, weight 132-300 g. The tail is covered with dense hairs, longer than the body. The muzzle is narrow, the ears are large and round in shape. There are two color options:

• dark or black-brown above with a greenish tint of guard hairs; light sides; ashy or dirty gray tummy;
• on top the color is like that of a gray rat, but lighter and yellower, the tummy is whitish or yellowish.

Southern forms are usually larger and lighter in color than northern ones.

The species is cosmopolitan, distributed in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australia.

Australian swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus)

Body length 12-20 cm, tail length 56-150 mm, weight about 115 g. The coat is gray-brown or dark gray on top, the belly is usually lighter, from brown to cream color. The hairs have golden tips. The ears are small and invisible in the fur. The tail is scaly with sparse hairs.

The species is found southeast of Fraser Island and south to Kangaroo Island, Tasmania, Bass Strait Islands, Queensland, up to 1600 m above sea level.

Long-haired rat (Rattus villosissimus)

Endemic to central and northern Australia, where it lives in arid or desert areas. Outwardly similar to a black rat.

Small rat (Rattus exulans)

The body is short, the muzzle is pointed, the ears are large, the color is brown. Body length is from 11.5 to 15 cm (without tail), the tail is thin, with “rings” on the surface. The length of the tail is equal to the length of the body. Weight is 40-80 g.

This is the third most common species of rat in the world. Indonesia is recognized as its homeland, from where the small rat was distributed throughout Southeast Asia and Oceania. Lives in steppes, fields and forests. Kept as a pet.

Other breeds

Through the process of crossing different species, many different breeds were developed. Some of them are not officially recognized because they are considered abnormal.

1. Rex. The fur of this species of rat is curly and stiff. It seems to be sticking out in different directions. These animals have short, curling whiskers.

2. Double rex. This variety has a striking distinctive feature, as it is susceptible to molting. Because of this, areas of curly hair alternate with bald spots. When hair grows on bald areas, it begins to fall out on those that had vegetation. These rats are not officially recognized.
3. The breed of long-haired rats is otherwise called satin. Such animals do not differ in size from standard rats, but their fur is slightly elongated and very shiny.
4. Husky. This species resembles a dog breed of the same name. On the animal’s muzzle there is a white mask of the same shape as that of dogs of this breed. They have the amazing feature of changing the color of their coat throughout their lives (colored wool is eventually replaced by white hairs).

   
   Husky breed

5. Curly rats resemble lambs in appearance. They have a velvety, shiny and curly coat. On their bellies it can be either regular or curly.
6. Wavy. These animals have thick, soft, fluffy and wavy fur.
7. Odd-eyed. This is the most unusual type of rodent. The eyes of its representatives have different colors.

Rats are smart, beautiful, flexible and plastic animals. They are loved and bred by many. These rodents have helped humanity many times. For example, with their help, many drugs have been developed that save human lives. However, children and many adults love them simply for what they are, because they are quite cute and friendly. Now you have become acquainted with all types and breeds of decorative rats. It's time to go buy a pet!

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Rat behavior

Rats lead a terrestrial or semi-arboreal lifestyle. In order to hide, they use burrows, which they dig themselves or by finding abandoned empty burrows of other animals. They live either alone or in family or territorial groups. There are up to several hundred or thousands of individuals in colonies. There is a hierarchy within the group. The colony occupies an area of ​​up to 2000 m2, and marks it with scent marks.

Rats are active at night and at dusk. They often settle next to a person and easily adapt to his activity.

Body structure

Experts say that street rats have the ability to adapt and survive in almost any environment. But despite all this, they have very poor eyesight. This is explained by the structure of the lens. The structure of the lens makes it possible to see everything that surrounds it at an angle of 16º. To see much more, the rat is forced to constantly turn its head. They see almost everything that surrounds them in gray. They also have the ability to see the bluish-green part of the light spectrum. In red they see complete darkness.

Rats have very well developed senses of smell. Despite this, animals are not able to use this feature over long distances. This characteristic of the organism can be explained by the fact that evolution and natural selection determined it this way. The life of these animals occurs in such conditions that they simply do not need to have a higher sense. Despite this, at short distances, rats are very good at distinguishing all odors. They constantly examine each other using their sense of smell to understand who is nearby - their own or someone else's.

There are different types of rats

A certain feature is observed in the structure of the hearing organs. Rats can hear sounds even at frequencies around 40,000 Hz. Animals react very quickly even to the quietest noises. A very interesting fact is that pure sounds are not perceived by their ears at all.

Communication occurs with the help of a characteristic squeak. Rats have the best developed sense of touch. This has been confirmed through special studies. Special vibrissae act as organs of touch - these are small sensitive hairs. There are a lot of these hairs on the face.

Rodents have a very clear understanding of the tastes of food. In this respect they are not at all different from other existing species of mammals. The ability to distinguish taste is explained by the presence of small filiform papillae on the surface of the tongue. At the top they are covered with a special keratinized epithelium. This makes it possible to better retain food in the mouth. Rats have very well developed salivary glands, and the parotid, submandibular and sublingual glands are considered the most developed. The functioning of these glands ensures the production of saliva in the oral cavity, which is necessary for digesting food and wetting dust particles. Rodents need to wet the dust with saliva when they are setting up their home, or rather digging a hole.

These rodents have very strong teeth

Rat breeding

They breed throughout the year, except in northern populations. The gray rat has 2-22 cubs in one litter, on average 8-9, in Malayan species from 3 to 6, in Australian species from 3 to 14

Under natural conditions, rats breed in warm weather, 2-3 times a year, and in heated rooms - all year round, breeding up to 8 offspring. The breeding cycle has a spring and autumn peak.

Pregnancy lasts 22-24 days. Babies weigh 4-6 g and are born naked, blind, with closed ear canals. Stillborn and weak rat pups are eaten by females. Males do not take part in raising offspring. The eyes of rat pups open 2 weeks after birth. At the age of 3-4 weeks they become independent. Females reach sexual maturity at 3-4 months.

The lifespan of rats in nature is from 1.5 to 3 years.

How often should deratization be carried out?

Deratization should be carried out as needed, that is, at the first, even indirect, signs of the appearance of rats in the room. Evidence of rodents visiting the site can be their excrement, teeth marks on various surfaces, scattered food, bits of food and other evidence left by the “raiders” at the crime scene. However, according to the law of the Russian Federation, there are a number of social facilities where it is necessary to carry out rat control once a month for preventive purposes in order to eliminate the possibility of rats appearing. Proactive action should be taken in all facilities where food is stored, processed, packaged or prepared. Such objects include:

• Public catering points;
• Enterprises producing or processing products;
• Kindergartens;
• Schools;
• Sanatoriums and holiday homes;
• Hospitals;
• Nursing home;
• Terminals and storage;
• And other similar objects;

Interesting facts about the rodent:

• Rats cause economic damage as they eat and spoil food and non-food products, damage electrical networks, and cause damage to agriculture. In addition, they are a natural reservoir for many zoonotic and anthropozoonotic infections (plague, tularemia, rabies, typhus, toxoplasmosis, leptospirosis, rickettsiosis). Therefore, many methods have been developed for their destruction - deratization. But rats can adapt to and recognize poisons.
• In the United States, rats bite about 14,000 people every year.
• Since the 19th century, specially bred rats have been kept as pets. They are also bred as “live food” for home terrariums and zoos.
• Rats are the main experimental system in biological and medical experiments. Special laboratory rats were bred for this purpose. They are distinguished by their fast metabolism, unpretentiousness and peaceful nature.
• Rats are considered very intelligent animals; along with humans, they have abstract thinking. In addition, they respond to tickling and produce ultrasonic laughter-like sounds.
• In China, the rat is a symbol of prosperity and the first animal to open the cycle of the eastern horoscope. In Islam, the rat is the embodiment of sensuality, and Hinduism represents the rat as a former demon.

Structure of teeth

Teeth are perhaps one of the most distinctive features of a rat, preventing it from being confused with a mouse.

Both the lower and upper jaws have two long incisors. In their sharpening, cutters are very similar to a chisel. On their front side there is very durable enamel. There is no enamel on the back side, and therefore they are constantly worn away, taking on the shape of a chisel. In the oral cavity of these rodents there is a diastema, which is a gap in the jaws in which teeth are completely absent. These voids are located between the incisors and molars. Incisors do not have a root system, which is why they grow continuously. This feature of the teeth completely answers the question of why rats constantly chew something. The thing is that the incisors grow continuously and if they are not ground down, they will grow so much that the rodent will not be able to fully close its mouth.

When living in a natural environment, that is, in nature, rats use their incisors to gnaw through various roots, branches and plants

There are different varieties of rats, and if we take into account the domestic type, they need to constantly put hard objects in the cage with which they can grind down their incisors. These rodents have very strong teeth. This is confirmed by the fact that they can cope with hard materials such as cement, wood, stone and some types of steel. When living in a natural environment, that is, in nature, rats use their incisors to gnaw through various roots, branches and plants.

As for the molars, they are located very close to each other and form an entire row. Their main task is to grind food. These teeth have a characteristic flat and slightly cusped surface.

Natural enemies

Rats try to avoid “communication” with representatives of canines and cats, as well as snakes and snakes. Their real enemies are: kites, eagles, owls. If foxes or beavers live in the region where rats live, a real war begins between them and the rodents.

In India, mongooses actively fight toothy pests. Some countries of the world (Japan, Colombia, New Zealand) periodically experienced an overabundance of breeding rats, threatening to destroy the entire harvest. In such cases, cats always came to the rescue, which were specially brought into the country to establish biological balance.

Benefits and harms

Rats are a vital link in every ecosystem. A striking example of this is the role of rodents in the “plant-mushroom” symbiosis. Rodents carry spores, ensuring their “meeting” with the necessary representatives of the flora.

Predatory animals and birds feed on rats. People use large rodents for scientific experiments. Decorative varieties of rats are bred for the purpose of domestication. They are often used in various educational projects and circus shows.

Rats are a necessary part of wildlife. An increase in population affects all elements of the ecosystem. The damage caused by rodents to people is enormous:

• damaged house walls and sewer pipes;
• damaged electrical wiring;
• poisoned crops;
• loss of part of the harvest harvested in storage;
• infection with infections (plague, salmonellosis, leptospirosis, pseudotuberculosis, etc.).

Wild rodents can cause significant damage to an orchard. They move freely through trees, damage the bark, and cause damage to shoots and fruits. Particularly dangerous are gray pasyuki, which have a rare appetite and aggressive character.

Rat head

The head of a rodent has the following features:

• quite large in size;
• elongated shape;
• pointed nose;
• rounded miniature ears;
• small eyes.

The rat's head has two parts - front and back. It is separated from the rat's body by the neck. The rodent's ears are shaped like a movable shell. The auditory canal runs through its base along the temporal bone.

Use as pets

Thanks to their natural intelligence, rats are easy to train. Most often, gray rodents become pets.

Caring for rats is not difficult. The animals are friendly and clean, but when feeding your pets you should follow moderation and listen to the advice of specialists and a veterinarian.

Important! Such rodents should not be kept alone. These animals are accustomed to living collectively; they feel good only in the company of their relatives.

Lifestyle

Rats are the most common animal in the world. They are not found only in the Arctic and Antarctica. These rodents are characterized by group living, with hundreds of individuals in one family. The community is controlled by an alpha male and 2-3 females. Each group of animals controls a territory of up to 2000 sq.m.

Rat families have specific habitats. Most animals prefer to stay close to humans, feeding on leftover food or supplies taken from storage.

They have very sensitive taste buds

Poisoning a rat is not easy. Animals can detect infinitesimal amounts of poison in food—as little as one part in a million. It's like finding a teaspoon of cocoa in 5,909 liters of milk. Rats are also wary when eating unfamiliar food; they start by tasting a tiny piece of food to make sure that the food is harmless.

Sometimes rats bite sleeping people on the face and hands at night, attracted by food debris on human skin. Once a rat bites a person, the chances of it biting people again increases. It's like finding a new favorite dish and ordering it at every restaurant you visit.

Ratobor bait options

Ratobor baits are presented in several forms:

• dough briquette – made in the form of compressed tiles;
• grain bait - made in two versions: in the first - packaged in bags, and in the second - directly in containers;
• gel concentrate – a concentrated preparation that needs to be mixed with a self-prepared edible base (bread, grain, mixed feed, etc.), then add vegetable oil and flour and spread in places where rodents move;
• wax tablets are an ideal option for damp rooms (cellar, garage, garden, etc.), where conventional preparations get wet very quickly and lose their effectiveness. The tablets are treated with wax, so they are not afraid of dampness: they remain effective even in such conditions;
• granules are another option for wet areas. Solid granules do not break and are resistant to soaking.