AI overview
Rattus rattus is a species of rat that belongs to the mammal family. It matters because it has been introduced to many parts of the world and can cause significant damage to crops, stored food, and property while also spreading disease.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
Least Concernblack rat
SPECIES
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassMammalia
- OrderRodentia
- FamilyMuridae
via GBIF · IUCN
Article
The black rat (Rattus rattus), also known as the roof rat, ship rat, or house rat, is a common long-tailed rodent of the stereotypical rat genus Rattus, in the subfamily Murinae. It is a generalist omnivore that can live on a wide variety of foods. It associates extensively with humans, and most populations are synanthropic. It likely originated in the Indian subcontinent, but is now found worldwide.
The black rat is black to light brown in colour with a lighter underside. It is a prominent pest to farmers because it feeds on a wide range of agricultural crops. It is sometimes kept as a pet, though most domestic rats are a subspecies of the brown rat. In parts of India, it is considered sacred and respected, notably at the Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke.