Rattus norvegicusRodentia - Muridae
ou Rat brun ou encore Surmulot, Rat de Norvège, Rat d'égout. Rongeur trapu, adulte son corps mesure 25 cm de long environ ainsi que sa queue; c'est un des plus grands muridés.
Il semble qu'il serait originaire de Chine, du Japon et de l'est de la Russie et qu'il serait arrivé dans nos contrées assez tardivement... après les épidémies de pestes du XIVè siècle.
S'il n'a pas été le vecteur de la bactérie Yersinia pestis, il est celui de bien d'autres bactéries et virus.
S'il n'a pas été le vecteur de la bactérie Yersinia pestis, il est celui de bien d'autres bactéries et virus.
Cependant, il est à l'origine des souches domestiques de laboratoires et de rats de compagnie; son intelligence est grande, ce qui en fait un compagnon formidable.
Cette femelle vit dans cet endroit sauvage où j'ai photographié le Râle d'eau. Ses petites empreintes, visibles sur la vase, indiquaient sa présence mais la voir sortir du dessous de la végétation a été une surprise sympathique.
La Rata parda
The Brown rat
It goes by many names such as Brown Rat, Common rat or Rat of Norway. Robust rodent, it reaches 25 cms long when adult and has a similar tail length; it is one of the largest muridae.
It seems that it originates from China, Japan and East of Russia and that it would have arrived in Europe way after the plague epidemics of the 14th century. If it was not the vector of the bacterium Yersinia pestis, it is nevertheless that of many other bacterial and viral diseases. However, this is the rat from which domestic and laboratory strains are issued; its intelligence makes it a great pet.
This female lives around the swamp where I photographed the Water rail. Her tiny tracks visible on the mud indicated her presence but seeing her coming out of the vegetation was a treat!
It goes by many names such as Brown Rat, Common rat or Rat of Norway. Robust rodent, it reaches 25 cms long when adult and has a similar tail length; it is one of the largest muridae.
It seems that it originates from China, Japan and East of Russia and that it would have arrived in Europe way after the plague epidemics of the 14th century. If it was not the vector of the bacterium Yersinia pestis, it is nevertheless that of many other bacterial and viral diseases. However, this is the rat from which domestic and laboratory strains are issued; its intelligence makes it a great pet.
This female lives around the swamp where I photographed the Water rail. Her tiny tracks visible on the mud indicated her presence but seeing her coming out of the vegetation was a treat!
