Rattus
Rattus
Rattus (/ˈrætəs/), commonly known as the rat, is a genus of muroid rodents from the family Muridae, of which two species are best known for their worldwide distribution: the black rat and the brown rat. The term "Rattus" is derived from the Latin word for "rat".
Etymology
The term "Rattus" is a Latin word, which means "rat". It is believed to be of Germanic origin, related to the Old High German "rato", meaning "rat". The genus name was first used in scientific literature by Carl Linnaeus in his 10th edition of Systema Naturae in 1758.
Species
The genus Rattus contains 64 species. The best known species are the black rat (Rattus rattus) and the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus). These two species have spread to all continents of the world, except Antarctica, and are the most destructive pests to humans.
Related Terms
- Muridae: The family to which the genus Rattus belongs. It includes other rodents such as mice and gerbils.
- Rodent: The order of mammals to which rats belong. It is the largest order of mammals, comprising about 40% of the mammalian species.
- Black rat: A species of rat in the genus Rattus, known for its black fur.
- Brown rat: Another species of rat in the genus Rattus, known for its brown fur.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Rattus
- Wikipedia's article - Rattus
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