Black rat
Species of rodent / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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"Rattus rattus" redirects here. For other uses, see Black rat (disambiguation).
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.[1] It likely originated in the Indian subcontinent, but is now found worldwide.[2]
Quick Facts Black rat Temporal range: Holocene, Conservation status ...
Black rat Temporal range: Holocene | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Muridae |
Genus: | Rattus |
Species: | R. rattus |
Binomial name | |
Rattus rattus | |
Synonyms | |
Mus rattus Linnaeus, 1758 |
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The black rat is black to light brown in colour with a lighter underside. It is a generalist omnivore and a serious pest to farmers because it feeds on a wide range of agricultural crops. It is sometimes kept as a pet. In parts of India, it is considered sacred and respected in the Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke.