
Brown Rat 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 150-215 mm. Body size 180-255 mm. Body weight 200-480 g. Preferred habitat Shelter under bushes, in sewers and other urban sites, or construct deep burrow systems, make nests of shredded materials. Closely associated with humans, common in coastal urban areas. Habit Mainly nocturnal. Status Introduced rodent. Scientific name Rattus norvegicus. Reviled by many because of association with disease and choice of habitat. In reality, numbers reflect wastefulness of modern society, rats thriving on refuse and discarded food. In this respect at least, could be said to be serving useful function. Burrows and swims well. Common and widespread throughout Britain.

Brown Rat

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 150-215 mm.

Body size
180-255 mm.

Body weight
200-480 g.

Preferred habitat
Shelter under bushes, in sewers and other urban sites, or construct deep burrow systems, make nests of shredded materials. Closely associated with humans, common in coastal urban areas.

Habit
Mainly nocturnal. Status
Introduced rodent.

Scientific name
Rattus norvegicus.

Reviled by many because of association with disease and choice of habitat. In reality, numbers reflect wastefulness of modern society, rats thriving on refuse and discarded food. In this respect at least, could be said to be serving useful function. Burrows and swims well. Common and widespread throughout Britain.