Black Rat

Rattus rattus

Appearance

•  16 - 24 cm in length, with a tail longer than the head and body.
•  150 - 200g in weight.
•  Pointed nose, large ears and a slender body when compared to the Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus).

Lifecycle

•  5 - 10 young per litter; 3 - 6 litters a year.
•  Gestation period of about 3 weeks.
•  12 - 16 weeks from birth to sexual maturity.

Habits

•  Appearance confined mainly to ports.
•  Often climbs, agile, rarely burrowing and rarely outdoors.
•  Preferred food is moist fruits.
•  Will eat around 15g of food a day and drink 15ml