10 Fun Animal Facts: Rats

When most people think of rats, the first thing that comes to mind is probably New York City sewer rats or the Bubonic Plague. But rats have made a big splash as pets and are very friendly and social animals. There are actually many more types of rats than most people are aware of: roof rats, domesticated rats, Norway rats, kangaroo rats, cotton rats, naked mole rats and the biggest rat of all, the giant African Gambian Pouched rat.

1. Rats have poor vision but rats with red or pink eyes have worst vision. In order to see better they will weave their head back and forth to get a better view.

2. Rats are colorblind and can't see objects that are far off. They use their sense of smell to figure out what they are seeing.

3. A group of rats is called a mischief. Babies are called pups.

4. Rats have ways of communicating with each other including, smell, touch, body postures and high pitched sounds. They also use their whiskers to help with communicating and feeling.

5. Rats use their tails to regulate their temperature and to communicate with one another and as well as for balancing.

6. Lifespan of a rat is between 2 and 4 years. But some rats will live longer if kept healthy and happy.

7. Rats can fit through any opening they can get their heads through.

8. Ancient Romans didn't distinguish rats and mice but instead called them, Rattus Major (big rat) and Rattus Minor (little rat).

9. The rat is the first animal on the Chinese Zodiac.

10. Rat teeth never stop growing, rats need to chew on wood blocks, hard seeds and other hard things to keep their teeth filed down. Domesticated rats will sometimes have to visit the veterinarian to have their teeth filed down if they over grow.

Sources:
http://www.veganpeace.com/animal_facts/Rats.htm