I’m going to be telling you about the Rattus Norvegicus. The Rattus Norvegicus is known as a common rat or the brown rat. “By spreading disease, the brown rat has caused more deaths then all the wars in history”.

 

The brown rat has a body up to 25cm(10in) long, and a similar tail length. Male brown rats weigh about 350g(12oz).female brown rats weigh about 250g(9oz). brown rats are uasully brown or dark grey.

 

The brown rat lives off of crops and stored food. They are so connected to humans. They live in packs up to 200. Brown rats can be dangerous. They will often attack rabbits or even human babies. They have really bad eye sight so they use smell to find their food. Brown rats prefer to eat stored or cultivated cereal grains. They will also eat meat.

 

The brown rats were probably originated from Northern China. You can find brown rats mostly anywhere humans live, but the polar regions.

 

It takes 21-24 days to be born. Six to eleven rats are born at one time. They can have up to 5 liters per year. Their life span is 1-2 years.

 

The brown rat spreads diseases like salmonella. That is why they have caused  more deaths then all the wars in history.

 

By: Hunter C.

Published: 02/2011

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Sources:

Brown Rat." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 26 Jan. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_rat>.

 

added:

Cooke, F., and Jenni Bruce. The Encyclopedia of Animals: a Complete Visual Guide. Berkeley: University of California, 2004. Print.

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"Brown Rat." WonderClub Deals with Both World Wonders, and Animal Life. Come and Learn about the World Around You! Web. 03 Feb. 2011. <http://www.wonderclub.com/Wildlife/mammals/brown_rat.html>.