Black rat

(Rattus rattus)

Biology:

Unlike the brown rat, the black rat likes warm and dry places, such as storage facilities or the floors of houses. It is a very good climber and uses its tail for support and balance. Its fur is brown-black and it is usually smaller and slimmer than the brown rat, with a body length of 16 to 20 cm. Its tail is always longer than its body, measuring approximately 19 to 25 cm. As it does not drag its tail like the brown rat, you do not usually see track marks between the paw prints for black rats. Every now and again, you might see a stroke (as if made by a whipcord) caused by the rat's tail movements to the right or left of the footprints. The black rat has a pointed head with very large ears and eyes.

Black rats are omnivores but mainly prefer a plant-based diet. Like brown rats, they reproduce all year round. Females have 1 to 2 litters in a year with an average of 5 to 8 young.

 

Damage:

It causes the same damage as the brown rat.