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Taxa

Rattus

Mammal Genera

Rattus is a genus of muroid rodents, family Muridae, known as Old World rats or true rats and comprising 64 extant species by one current count, with taxonomic work ongoing. The genus originated in Asia and is now found worldwide; its two best-known species, the black rat and the brown rat, have been introduced worldwide except Antarctica. Rattus species are bigger than most Old World mice but seldom weigh over 500 grams in the wild.

Facts
Taxonomic Rank
Genus 2
Scientific Name
Rattus 2
Member Species/Taxa Count
64 2
Geographic Distribution
The group is generally known as the Old World rats or true rats and originated in Asia. 2
Defining Characteristics
Rats are bigger than most Old World mice, which are their relatives, but seldom weigh over 500 grams (1.1 lb) in the wild. 2
Member Count Band
10 to 100 Species 3
Era First Appeared
Neogene 4
Classification
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Connections

Parent Taxon Of

Aceh rat, Species
Source Aceh rat (Wikipedia)
Source Australian swamp rat (Wikipedia)
Bush rat, Species
Source Bush rat (Wikidata)
Dusky rat, Species
Source Dusky rat (Wikipedia)
Fancy rat, Species
Source Fancy rat (Wikipedia)
Japen rat, Species
Source Japen rat (Wikipedia)
Source Large New Guinea spiny rat (Wikipedia)
Source Lesser ricefield rat (Wikipedia)
Source Little soft-furred rat (Wikipedia)
Source Malayan field rat (Wikipedia)
Source Manus Island spiny rat (Wikipedia)
Source Mindoro black rat (Wikipedia)
Source Moluccan prehensile-tailed rat (Wikipedia)
Source Moss-forest rat (Wikipedia)
Source New Ireland forest rat (Wikipedia)
Nillu rat, Species
Source Nillu rat (Wikipedia)
Nonsense rat, Species
Source Nonsense rat (Wikipedia)
Opossum rat, Species
Source Opossum rat (Wikipedia)
Osgood's rat, Species
Source Osgood's rat (Wikipedia)
Source Pale field rat (Wikipedia)
Palm rat, Species
Source Palm rat (Wikipedia)
Source Philippine forest rat (Wikipedia)
Source Polynesian rat (Wikipedia)
Ricefield rat, Species
Source Ricefield rat (Wikipedia)
Source Sahyadris forest rat (Wikipedia)
Sikkim rat, Species
Source Sikkim rat (Wikipedia)
Simalur rat, Species
Source Simalur rat (Wikipedia)
Slender rat, Species
Source Slender rat (Wikipedia)
Source Southeastern xanthurus rat (Wikipedia)
Sula rat, Species
Source Sula rat (Wikipedia)
Summit rat, Species
Source Summit rat (Wikipedia)
Sunburned rat, Species
Source Sunburned rat (Wikipedia)
Source Tawitawi forest rat (Wikipedia)
Source Van Deusen's rat (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ36396, descriptionView the Source
2. Rattus - Wikipedia
  • Introduction, first sentence
    Rattus is a genus of muroid rodents, all typically called rats.
  • Introduction
    Rattus is a genus of muroid rodents, all typically called rats.
  • Introduction/Taxonomy section
    The genus Rattus proper contains 64 extant species.
  • Introduction, second sentence
    The group is generally known as the Old World rats or true rats and originated in Asia.
  • Introduction, third sentence
    Rats are bigger than most Old World mice, which are their relatives, but seldom weigh over 500 grams (1.1 lb) in the wild.
View the Source
3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Rattus
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
Quote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 63
View the Source
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Rattus
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Rattus" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 7.246 ... "early_interval": "Messinian"
View the Source
Wikidata: Rattus
Wikidata Q36396, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Bush rat (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Bush rat, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q36396 (Rattus)View the Source
Aceh rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Aceh rat, Lead, genus
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Aceh rat, Lead, genus
The Aceh rat (Rattus blangorum) is a species of rodent from the family Muridae.
View the Source
Australian swamp rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Australian swamp rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Australian swamp rat, Lead
The Australian swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus)
View the Source
Dusky rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Dusky rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Dusky rat, Lead
The dusky rat (Rattus colletti) is an indigenous species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Australia.
View the Source
Manus Island spiny rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Manus Island spiny rat, Lead, taxonomic placement
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Manus Island spiny rat, Lead, taxonomic placement
is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is endemic to Manus Island in Papua New Guinea
View the Source
Malayan field rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Malayan field rat, Lead, genus
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Malayan field rat, Lead, genus
(Rattus tiomanicus) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
View the Source
Pale field rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Pale field rat, Description
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Pale field rat, Description
The pale field rat is a medium-sized species of Rattus
View the Source
Polynesian rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Polynesian rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Polynesian rat, Lead
The Polynesian rat, Pacific rat or little rat (Rattus exulans), or kiore
View the Source
Mindoro black rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Mindoro black rat, Lead, classification
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Mindoro black rat, Lead, classification
The Mindoro black rat (Rattus mindorensis) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
View the Source
Moluccan prehensile-tailed rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Moluccan prehensile-tailed rat, Lead, classification
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Moluccan prehensile-tailed rat, Lead, classification
The Moluccan prehensile-tailed rat (Rattus morotaiensis) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
View the Source
Nonsense rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Nonsense rat, Lead, genus
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Nonsense rat, Lead, genus
Today it is classified in the genus Rattus
View the Source
Nillu rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Nillu rat, Lead, scientific name
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Nillu rat, Lead, scientific name
(Rattus montanus)
View the Source
Slender rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Slender rat, Lead, classification
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Slender rat, Lead, classification
The slender rat (Rattus verecundus) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
View the Source
Palm rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Palm rat, Lead, classification
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Palm rat, Lead, classification
The palm rat (Rattus palmarum) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
View the Source
Little soft-furred rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Little soft-furred rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Little soft-furred rat, Lead
The little soft-furred rat (Rattus mollicomulus)
View the Source
Japen rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Japen rat, Lead, scientific name
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Japen rat, Lead, scientific name
(Rattus jobiensis)
View the Source
Lesser ricefield rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Lesser ricefield rat, Lead, scientific name
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Lesser ricefield rat, Lead, scientific name
(Rattus losea)
View the Source
Large New Guinea spiny rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Large New Guinea spiny rat, Lead, scientific name
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Large New Guinea spiny rat, Lead, scientific name
(Rattus praetor)
View the Source
Philippine forest rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Philippine forest rat, Lead, scientific name
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Philippine forest rat, Lead, scientific name
(Rattus everetti)
View the Source
Tawitawi forest rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Tawitawi forest rat, Lead, scientific name
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Tawitawi forest rat, Lead, scientific name
(Rattus tawitawiensis)
View the Source
Summit rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Summit rat, Lead, scientific name
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Summit rat, Lead, scientific name
(Rattus baluensis)
View the Source
Van Deusen's rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Van Deusen's rat, Lead, scientific name
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Van Deusen's rat, Lead, scientific name
(Rattus vandeuseni)
View the Source
Osgood's rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Osgood's rat, Lead, scientific name
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Osgood's rat, Lead, scientific name
(Rattus osgoodi)
View the Source
New Ireland forest rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: New Ireland forest rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: New Ireland forest rat, Lead
The New Ireland forest rat (Rattus sanila) is a large rodent in the family Muridae.
View the Source
Moss-forest rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Moss-forest rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Moss-forest rat, Lead
The moss-forest rat (Rattus niobe) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
View the Source
Sikkim rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Sikkim rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Sikkim rat, Lead
The Sikkim rat (Rattus andamanensis) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
View the Source
Simalur rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Simalur rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Simalur rat, Lead
The Simalur rat (Rattus simalurensis) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
View the Source
Opossum rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Opossum rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Opossum rat, Lead
The opossum rat (Rattus marmosurus) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
View the Source
Southeastern xanthurus rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Southeastern xanthurus rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Southeastern xanthurus rat, Lead
The southeastern xanthurus rat (Rattus salocco), is a rodent of the genus Rattus.
View the Source
Ricefield rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Ricefield rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Ricefield rat, Lead
The ricefield rat (Rattus argentiventer) is a species of rat found throughout Southeast Asia.
View the Source
Sahyadris forest rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Sahyadris forest rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Sahyadris forest rat, Lead
The Sahyadris forest rat (Rattus satarae) is a species of rat belonging to the family Muridae.
View the Source
Sula rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Sula rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Sula rat, Lead
The Sula rat (Rattus elaphinus) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.
View the Source
Sunburned rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Sunburned rat, Lead
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Sunburned rat, Lead
The sunburned rat (Rattus adustus) is a species of rat from Enggano Island in Indonesia.
View the Source
Fancy rat (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Fancy rat, Taxobox
Quote, Parent Taxon Of: Fancy rat, Taxobox
Wikipedia taxobox field: genus = Rattus
View the Source
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