Brown Rat
Scientific name: Rattus norvegicus
Similar species:
Black Rat; Water-rat
Black Rat; Water-rat
Click to enlarge image
Brown Rat family
Location:Monavale
Date taken:1 September 2010
The introduced Brown Rat originates in SE Asia and is more elongated in the body than the native bush rats of Australia.
Image: Kim Robertson
© Kim Robertson
© Kim Robertson
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Rattus
- Species
- norvegicus
- Family
- Muridae
- Order
- Rodentia
- Subclass
- Eutheria
- Class
- Mammalia
- Subphylum
- Vertebrata
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- Body 180-255 mm, Tail 150-215 mm, Weight 200-480 g
The Brown Rat is an introduced rodent.
Identification
The distinguishing characteristics of the Brown Rat include:
- Front teeth: One pair of distinctive chisel shaped incisors with hard yellow enamel on front surfaces.
- Head: Blunt muzzle with long whiskers.
- Ears: Medium ears.
- Colouring: Grey-brown above, white to grey below; shaggy bristly fur.
- Tail: Short scaly tail, shorter than body.
Similar species
Black Rat; Water-rat.
Habitat
Brown Rats shelter under bushes, in sewers and other urban sites, or construct deep burrow systems, make nests of shredded materials. Brown Rats are closely associated with humans and are common in coastal urban areas.
Distribution
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
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