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Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Mammals Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)

General: Black Rats (Rattus rattus), are native to Asia, but they spread throughout Europe and then the rest of the world during the early days of worldwide exploration when European mice and rats were carried on sailing ships. As such, these mice are well naturalized to urban environments everywhere. Black Rats occasionally can be found in native environments, but are usually associated with humans. Black Rats are good climbers and will climb trees or other structures to avoid danger.

Around Las Vegas, look for Black Rats in urban environments. In North America, this species is more common in temperate coastal areas.

Black Rats, via the fleas they carry, were responsible for bubonic plague outbreaks (black death) in Europe in the 1340s.

Black Rat (Rattus rattus)

Head and Body: 7-8-inches long. Dorsal fur gray-brown or black, short; ventral fur lighter, but never white.

Tail: To about 9-10 inches long. Little hair; appears scaly; about the same color on the top and bottom.

Ears: Short and rounded.

Weight: 5 to 10 oz. (to about 280 g).

Comments:

Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat; note the gray fur and naked, scaly tail
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat; note the gray fur
Black Rat (Rattus rattus) Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat (Rattus rattus) Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat (Rattus rattus) Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat (Rattus rattus) Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat (Rattus rattus) Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat (Rattus rattus) Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Scaly tail
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat nest
Black Rat (Rattus rattus) Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat (Rattus rattus) Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat (Rattus rattus) Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat pup: a little girl?
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat pups in a substitute nest
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat: note the naked, scaly tail
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Black Rat: note the naked, scaly tail
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Front foot, sole
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Front foot, back
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Hind foot, sole
Black Rat (Rattus rattus)
Hind foot, top

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 231228

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