What Genus Do Rats Belong To?

The genus Rattus includes a variety of species that inhabit the continents of Africa, Asia and Australia. Despite their similarities, they differ significantly in size and are native to a variety of climates. The genus includes 56 species, primarily thin-tailed medium-sized rodents. Many are native to continental Asia, although a few have spread to other continents in association with humans.

Although the majority of rats are terrestrial and prefer a sheltered location, there are a number of species that thrive in arboreal habitats. The Sulawesian white-tailed rat, for instance, has a long tail that is proportional to its body length, thick footpads and is an excellent climber. It lives in the crowns of understory trees and digs dens among their roots.

The gestation period in rats is 21 to 26 days and babies weigh six to eight grams at birth. A brown rat reaches sexual maturity at around three months of age and can produce two to twenty-two young per year. In temperate climates, brown rats tend to reproduce more frequently during the spring and autumn seasons.

The diet of rats differs between species. While the house rat eats a wide variety of foods, the brown rat eats mostly meat. Other species eat fruit, seeds and invertebrates.