Rats are the oldest mammals found all over the planet. An interesting fact is that most people do not have a neutral attitude towards these smartest animals. Rat breeders, who tenderly love their little furry pets, begin to respectfully treat their wild relatives as well. But among the bulk of people, one mention of rats causes disgust and disgust.
The negative is fueled by feature films and fantastic works about large rats with brightly glowing eyes in the dark and orange teeth. Following cultural figures, people are actively retelling each other blood-curdling stories from real life about bloodthirsty giants attacking humans. But not everything is so scary. Wild giant rat breeds are actually extremely peaceful and calm animals, not capable of offending even a small child.
Pros and cons of keeping Dumbo as a pet
The maintenance of the house of the rat Dumbo does not require large expenses
The decorative rat is one of those pets that does not require large expenses for its maintenance. Rats are curious and everyone wants to try it out. In addition, they require constant attention as they can fall and be injured.
These animals are attracted by their developed intellectual abilities, lack of aggression towards humans and other animals.
Of the advantages of choosing a Dumbo rat as a pet, they note:
- the cleanliness of the animal;
- omnivorous;
- small maintenance costs;
- ease of care.
But there are also disadvantages:
- the property of an animal to leave marks wherever it is;
- the tendency to gnaw on any objects;
- expensive treatment;
- people with a keen sense of smell notice a specific smell that comes from domestic rats;
- for the well-being of the pet, he needs to devote a lot of time;
- walking is necessary;
- relatively short lifespan.
The main types of decorative rats
The most common type of rodent. It differs, we diversify colors, ranging from "laboratory" white and ending with agouti - red-chestnut color. The color of the eyes is from red to blue, in some cases, the rat can be odd-eyed. The animals are large, the body length of the male is up to 50 cm, of the females - up to 40 cm. The weight of the male ranges from 400 to 800 grams, of the female - from 250 to 500 grams.
Differs in a uniform gray color with a blue tint. Rats range in color from light blue to steel blue and blue. Eye color is only black. Males weigh from 600 to 800 grams, females - from 300 to 550 grams. The body length of the male is up to 55 cm, of the female - up to 45 cm (rarely).
Differs in a kind of ears. Round, wide, located on the sides of the head. There is one more difference from ordinary decorative rats. The body shape of the dumbo is pear-shaped, expanding towards the bottom. Sharper muzzle, with a wide forehead. The colors are different, the body length is up to 40 cm, the weight rarely exceeds 300 grams.
It differs from the common domestic dumbo rat in curly hair and mustache.
An absolutely hairless domestic rat that lacks a mustache. It is allowed to have a small cannon on the body of an animal, and a short mustache. The main feature of the sphinx, in addition to its interesting appearance, is thermophilicity. The animal feels comfortable at temperatures up to +30 degrees. In the winter season, the temperature regime in the room where the animal is kept must be at least +22.Unlike their relatives, these rats are very sociable. And if the owner does not have enough time for a pet, it is advisable to purchase two same-sex rats from the same litter. It will be more fun for them together. Body length - up to 45 cm, weight - up to 400 grams. The color of the eyes is different, most often black. It may be red, with occasional blue-eyed sphinxes.
Differs in a pear-shaped body and the absence of a tail. Otherwise, the parameters are the same as for a regular decorative rat.
General characteristics.
Usually, rats live 2.5-3 years. It is extremely rare to live up to 4 years of age, this is considered a very old age for them. Males are more tame, imposing and phlegmatic. Females are cunning, curious. They need to know everything, to crawl everywhere. Animals love to walk on the shoulder of the owner, and letting them go for a free walk around the apartment is risky. First of all, for the pet itself. The rat can huddle in any gap, you can step on it, pinch it by the door. If there is a dog or cat in the house, they will be interested in the rodent, and this is a lethal outcome for the latter. The sharp and long teeth of the animal will damage furniture that can be chewed, wires and cords. Therefore, if you let a pet rat out for a walk, you need to watch it, isolate other pets and hide the wires from the curious animal.
The rat, regardless of subspecies, is a very smart animal. These rodents are capable of learning various commands and tricks. Pets are sociable, without human attention they quickly "wither", in the absence of communication, the lifespan of a rodent is reduced.
The rat will become a wonderful pet for people who can devote a significant part of their time to the pet. And also, for those who dream of a dog, but cannot get it for some reason. An intelligent and sociable animal will certainly bring joy to its owner.
Challengers to win
Until recently, it was believed that the largest rat in the world is the bamboo Sumatran. Its length, taking into account the tail, in some cases reached seventy-five centimeters. Individuals weighed as much as four kilograms. However, this record has now been broken.
For some time, the "booty" of a Chinese from Fuzhou was considered an unproven winner. Right in the city, he managed to catch a specimen, in which only the tail reached a third of a meter - and in rats it is thirty percent shorter than the body. The scales showed that the beast "pulled" by eleven kilos; and the incisors of the animal grew by 2.5 centimeters. However, apart from a photograph, the "hunter" could not give anything else as proof, so the existence of this monster remained in question.
Large closest relatives of rats
There are many wild rodents on planet Earth that look like Pikelets. Of course, lovers of horror stories often take pictures of rat relatives to confirm tales of aggressive gray mutants, but these mammals have nothing to do with the genus Rattus.
Giant marsupial rat
A giant marsupial or Gambian rat lives in Africa, a large rodent grows up to 90 cm in length, having a body weight of up to 1.5 kg. In appearance, the smartest mammal, indeed, resembles a huge gray pike, but it is a close relative not to rats, but to mice.
In addition, the marsupial rat does not in any way apply to marsupials that have a bag for carrying newborns. Cubs of a huge rodent are born ready for life in the external environment and live with their mother in the nest.
The name "marsupial" was given to large African animals for the large cheek pouches in which Gambian rats carry food like hamsters.
The giant rodent, like the pasuk, is an omnivorous animal that uses fruits, vegetables, termites and snails for food. Unlike rats, the African mammal suffers from poor eyesight, which is more than compensated for by a highly developed sense of smell.This feature of the African rodent is successfully used by the Belgian organization ARORO, which trains smart animals in the search skills of detecting tuberculosis and anti-personnel mines. Thanks to its high intelligence and peaceful nature, the giant marsupial rat even became a pet in southern countries.
Big cane rat
Another large rodent that lives along the shores of African waters. The favorite habitat of the big reed rat is thickets of bushes near rivers and lakes, marshlands, cultivated plantations and human settlements. The fluffy mammal has a very dense constitution, with a height of 60 cm, it reaches a weight of up to 9 kg. The local population successfully hunts reed rats using animal meat for food.
Big cane rat
A well-fed rodent swims very well, often spends most of its time in the water. Unlike omnivorous herders, reed rats are exclusively herbivores, feeding on sugarcane, corn, pumpkin, yam, and elephant grass. Attacks by numerous flocks of large rodents cause serious damage to agriculture, so African farmers use pest-eating pythons and mongooses to protect their fields.
Big bamboo rat
A large fluffy rodent found in southern China, northern Burma and Thailand. The large animal grows up to 50 cm and has a body weight of up to 4 kg. The main habitat of a large mammal is burrows and long underground passages, which rodents dig with their powerful claws. The animal feeds on plant food: the roots and stems of bamboo, as well as the fruits of tropical trees.
The big bamboo rat became the star of internet videos after a Chinese resident caught a huge 11 kg specimen of this species !!! But, unfortunately, this record was not recorded anywhere, and remained only in the form of an impressive snapshot of a short Chinese man with a giant gray rodent in his hands.
Capybara
The capybara or capybara is rightfully considered the largest rodent on the planet. Animals have a body length of 1-1.4 m with a weight of up to 65 kg. Outwardly, the capybara resembles a huge, well-fed guinea pig, but not a rat, so it is extremely difficult to mistake a waterfowl for a huge pike. A mammal, unlike rats, has a large rounded head with a blunt snout, a massive, overweight body with short legs that have swimming membranes.
Capybara lives exclusively in countries with warm climates: Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay. For their home, capybaras choose the banks of large rivers, but with a lack of food, animals move over land for long distances. For nutrition, rodents use only plant foods. Due to its large size and tasty pork-like meat, capybaras are bred on farms in Venezuela. Mammalian skin is used for the manufacture of leather goods, fat is used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Red kangaroo and zepkonog (musk kangaroo)
The musk kangaroo, also called zepkonog, got its name from the smell of musk emanating from it and the ability to climb trees. Outwardly, he is almost indistinguishable from a gray rat, but prefers to live near water.
A few months after birth, Zepkonog cubs are kept in a special bag by the female. Some specimens can reach a length of 35 cm.
There are even signs by which one can understand why these parasites appear in the house.
This small mammal belongs to the rat kangaroo family. It is called so due to its reddish-brown color. Marsupials are found in Australia and are a rare species. In size, a large rat kangaroo rodent resembles a rabbit, in everything else the animal is not much different from a kangaroo. The length of his body is up to 55 cm.
As the only species of its kind, it is the largest of all kangaroo rats. Their length can be up to half a meter, and their tail is forty centimeters. It feeds on plant foods.
Further, a rat from Australia, a rare species called red kangaroo. Body length is about 0.5 meters.
Lives in Australia and on the island of Tasmania. This rat has a bag in which it carries its cub. The largest specimens reach a body size of up to forty centimeters.
The bamboo rat found in Southeast Asia is a relatively small specimen. The body reaches a length of eight centimeters. The herbivore feeds on bamboo, lives in burrows.
Musk kangaroo, also called zepkonog. This animal gives off a musky smell. He is also great at climbing trees. Large representatives of this species reach a body size of more than 30 centimeters. It feeds on insects, plant roots, worms.
Musk kangaroo (Zepkonog) looks like a normal rat. All limbs of the zepkonog are proportional and have weak, small claws. The maximum body size of a musk kangaroo can reach 35 centimeters with a tail length of 12 cm. Tsepkonogs prefer to live in dense thickets near water bodies.
The smell of musk characteristic of animals became the reason for the name of the species - musky kangaroo. Females have a hatching pouch, where they carry their cubs for several months. The animal can move nimbly on the surface of the earth and climb trees. They choose insects and worms as food, but they can eat berries and root crops.
The large rat kangaroo belongs to the family of marsupial mammals. The length of the animal's body can reach 55 centimeters, and the length of the tail is 40 cm. The rodent resembles a kangaroo: its hind legs are larger and much longer than the front ones. It moves in leaps, but it can also move on all four legs.
This species has 34 teeth, canines are very well developed. The rat kangaroo has a well-developed brood sac, where the development of the baby's embryo takes place. Animals live in grass nests, which they build themselves, or in rabbit holes. They feed on vegetation, mushrooms and root crops. They are active at night. The kangaroo rat species is rare, in particular widespread in Australia.
Big rat according to the dream book
Dreams with these rodents, in addition to an alarming future, warn the dreamer of the betrayal of a loved one. The dream book reminds that when explaining what a big rat is dreaming of, you need to take into account the details of the dreaming image: the color, the behavior of the mammal, as well as the nature of interaction with it in a dream.
Prepare for the worst
Many dream books are sure that everything this large animal dreams of heralds the betrayal and insincerity of a person from the inner circle of the one who sees it. Seeing that a large rat attacks or bites you portends a serious skirmish with an enemy, competitor, rival.
A huge gray animal in a dream that behaves aggressively - attacks, bites or scratches, warns of problems in the relationship
If the dreamed events take place in the sleeping man's house, it means that you should pay attention to the behavior and words of your household members, try to avoid a serious conflict.
Take care of inner harmony
Aesop's dream book, interpreting what the big gray rat dreams about in the house, focuses on the personal qualities of the sleeping person himself. Perhaps the bad sides of your character will cause a series of problems. If you dreamed that seeing you a gray creature runs away from home, then, most likely, adversity will pass.
What are you afraid of?
David Loff in his dream book explains why a big rat dreams, the dreamer's fear of becoming the same insignificant waste of society, which is this mammal.Think about it, perhaps the fear of losing family, friends, status, authority or position in society does not allow you in reality to be who you really are. In this context, seeing an animal running away indicates disharmony in the soul.
Stop doubting
A dreamed black rodent, according to the General Dream Book, personifies the dreamer's doubts and insecurities
Seeing a large black mammal in a dream on the eve of an important event indicates the dreamer's nervous tension and anxiety. Another version of such a dream speaks about the indecision of a sleeping person to make an important decision.
Color and other details
When interpreting sleep, many dream books focus on the color and external features of the dreaming animal. So:
- a big black rat or mouse in a dream personifies an insidious enemy;
- white - heralds the appearance of allies and patrons;
- grayish - considered a symbol of betrayal;
- redhead - warns of slander and self-interest of others;
- decorative - means chores, mental anguish;
- dead - to an unpleasant skirmish that can ruin the mood;
- alive - to serious opposition;
- to see a lot of fat animals - broadcasts about an uncontrollable feeling of fear, panic, confusion.
Miller's explanations
According to psychologist Miller, to see a fat puck in your dream means that people from your inner circle, whether they are friends, relatives or just neighbors, decided to deceive you. If in a dream this creature has bitten a finger, you will quarrel with friends or business partners. I was lucky to kill him - to an irrefutable victory over the enemy. Caught a kind white big rat - luck will smile at you.
Go for it, success awaits you
Those who happened to kill a large and small rodent in a dream should not stop there. The French dream book interprets why such a plot is dreaming, exclusively in a positive way. The dream interpreter predicts success in all your endeavors.
Count on the support of your friends
Did you see a dog chasing a big rat? Know - a reliable shoulder of a friend is always there. A comrade will gladly share all your troubles and problems. But to see that a cat is catching a big rat speaks of secrets and intrigues started by the confidants against you.
Don't be afraid of obstacles
Even the most terrible picture in a dream, with the participation of these creatures, according to the dream books, may be a hint of the need to show character. So, to see a rat with big eyes or big teeth means that you should not turn off the intended path, since fear has large eyes.
I DREAMED A HUGE PINK RAT, IN THE HOSPITAL WARD, AND THE RAT WAS GOOD WILLING, WITHOUT AGGRESSION.
I dreamed that the rats were swimming in the water, but at first I did not see them. When I shone my flashlight into the water, they began to crawl out of the water and the largest one ran after me along the shore and jumped at me. She bit me, but in the dream there was almost no fear, she did not bite painfully. She had big teeth.
I dreamed of a big shabby gray rat, alone under a table in the terrace. At first she looked at me, and then she began to leave looking back.
I dreamed that a huge gray rat that lives in a chicken coop tried to attack, but I found a stick and parried the attack, then I woke up. What is a dream for?
The biggest rats
Nutria
Nutria is a herbivorous, burrowing semi-aquatic rodent. Like a giant rat, a typical nutria grows anywhere from 71-106 cm in length. Adults weigh 16 kilograms. Throughout the 1800s, the creature was exiled from most of its natural habitat.
Argentina began farming nutria for fur. By the early 20th century, the practice of breeding had spread to North America and Eurasia, although the fur itself did not become popular with traders.
Beginning in the 1940s, nutria became where it spread (escaped from local fur farms and multiplied), including rural England, Louisiana, Maryland. Nutria-based products are sold in the form of dog food.
According to National Geographic, adult nutria do not grow longer than 60 cm.
Castoroides
Also known as the giant beaver, castoroid is an extinct North American rodent that existed during the Pleistocene. Weighing 125 kg, the animal's body was 188-219 cm long, although it is not known how much extra length the tail might add to the body.
Castoroides are the largest beaver species that has ever lived on Earth. It differed from the modern beaver in that the extinct has large front and short hind legs, wider teeth and a smaller brain.
Castoroid fossils have been found in Ohio, Alaska, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, around the Great Lakes.
Learn more Life expectancy of animals, birds, fish, reptiles, trees and humans
Potoru | 41 centimeters
Potoru belongs to the genus of marsupials of the Kangaroo rat family. This is a rather large rodent, its body length can reach 41 centimeters, and its tail - 32 cm. The hind legs are more developed and longer than the front ones. It moves by leaps, on its hind legs alternately, like a jerboa. Like all marsupials, the female has a well-developed hatching sac, where the cub is located, after birth within 4 months. The main habitat for the potor is thickets of bushes, undergrowth or even steppe.
This is a fairly large species of the Kangaroo rat family. The size of its body is from 25 to 41 cm. Potoru are nocturnal animals. During the day they are in shallow burrows. They feed on various plants, fungi and insects. Like all animals of the order of marsupials, females have a well-developed brood pouch, in which they carry their young for four months.
Outwardly, the animals are similar to the musky kangaroo rat. The only difference is the presence of long hairs on the tail of the potoru. The long, developed hind legs of the animal, as well as the jumping movement, make them look like a kangaroo.
Potora can be found in Australia, as well as on the island of Tasmania.
Other large rat species
In general, the Bosavi woolly rat is among the real rats of the genus Rattus the largest and practically has no competitors. Animals of similar size and similar to rats are not actually rats, and the corresponding names are received only due to external similarity.
For example, the so-called nezomiids, a family of rodents common in Africa, are similar to rats. Among them there is a Gambian marsupial rat (it is also a giant marsupial), the body length of individual representatives of this species can reach 90 cm, but due to their slenderness and mobility, they weigh a maximum of 1.2-1.4 kg.
A giant marsupial rat is shown below in the photo:
This species is known, first of all, not for its size, but for serving people - thanks to the delicate scent of the Gambian marsupial rats, they are used to search for and neutralize mines. The preparation and training of one such "specialist animal" is several times cheaper than the preparation of a sapper dog, with the same work efficiency.
It is interesting
African marsupial rats get their name from their bulky cheek pouches. In these bags, they carry food, like hamsters do. These rats do not belong to real marsupial animals and do not have bags for bearing offspring.
Other examples of large, but not real rats are:
- Large reed rat. This animal also lives in Africa, has a very dense constitution, reaches a length of 61 cm, and individual adult males can weigh up to 9 kg. In the photo below, you can estimate the size of a representative of this species:
- The big bamboo rat, the hero of the circulated internet news that "a giant rat has been caught in China." Inhabits Southeast Asia, including China, reaches a length of 50 cm and a weight of 4 kg.The photo below is an illustration of a typical "yellow" news:
However, in reality, these animals have only a name from rats. They are related to true rats, members of the genus Rattus, as much as baboons are related to humans.
It is just as incorrect to compare the representatives of these species with the pasukas, as, for example, nutria - the latter are also very large, belong to the family of rodents and look like rats in appearance. But it never occurs to anyone to spread the news on the Internet that, they say, a giant mutant rat was caught in Azerbaijan, and to confirm it with a photograph of a farmer with nutria obtained at the headquarters.
But since we are talking about the large relatives of rats, it would be fair to mention the largest rodents in the world. Moreover, in one way or another, these animals really look like gray basement pests ...
With a big stretch, almost any rodent can be called a rat. Moreover, the structural features of most representatives of this family are similar, and something "rat" is guessed in the appearance of all of them. Therefore, animals that look like a large rat can belong to a wide variety of species.
For example:
- The capybara is the largest rodent in the world. At first glance, it can be mistaken for a kind of cross between a rat, a dog and a wild boar. The body length of an adult capybara can reach 1.35 m, the height at the withers is 60 cm, and the weight is 65 kg (in some individuals - up to 91 kg). Look at the photo and say that there is a "rat" in the guise of this creature:
- Beaver is the second largest rodent and the mass of its body in the world, the mass of which can reach 32 kg;
- Nutria, reaching a length of 60 cm and a weight of 12 kg. This animal especially resembles a large rat with its gold-colored teeth;
- Baibak marmot, reaching a length of 70 cm and by the end of summer, before hibernation, fattening up to 10 kg.
Interestingly, in the Pleistocene, the giant beaver Castoroides ohioensis lived in North America, the body length of which reached 2.75 m and weight - 350 kg. The largest extinct rodent, Josephoartigasia monesi, is believed to have weighed up to 1.5 tons.
It is also believed that some carnivorous mammals are similar to large rats, although they have a bushy tail. This similarity is often used in questions for various mind games, referring to mongoose. In fact, common external features in mongooses and rats can be found, but it is almost impossible to confuse these animals with each other.
Photo of a mongoose:
Agree, it would be strange to mistake him for a rat ...
Reasonable, unfounded fears
More recently, some 3 decades, articles about giant rats that were met in the Moscow metro appeared in Moscow newspapers. The articles claimed that rats appeared on the surface, where they pounced on passers-by. In size, these rats were comparable to dogs, while they had red eyes, a yellow plaque on their teeth and a wolf's grin. In other words, horrible monsters and quite aggressive.
With the advent of the Internet, videos of terrifying looking rodents have increasingly surfaced on social media. The Chinese presented a photo of a rat being held by its tail. It is believed to have been the largest mammal of this species, weighing several kilograms.
Thanks to the Internet, many people began to develop phobias in relation to this species of rodents, both reasonable and unfounded. Who wants to meet a giant rat on his way, and even a hungry one. In fact, everything is not so simple and ambiguous, since there are different types of rats, and there are also animals that look like rats.
Danger to humans
The confrontation between man and rats has been going on for thousands of years. In our time, such a struggle has received the official name - deratization. Despite notoriety in Europe and in many other countries, including the countries of America, in some countries of the East this rodent received the status of a divine animal, which symbolizes wealth, wisdom, prosperity, etc. The negative image of this rodent is associated with several epidemics of plague in Europe, which are carried by rats.
Some types of rats cause serious damage to crops because they simply destroy crops.Therefore, in such conditions, people resort to various methods of protecting crops from the invasion of rodents. In some cases, they are simply scared away, and in some, physically destroyed. Currently, rats pose a serious threat to the health of all mankind, since these rodents carry pathogens of dangerous diseases. The danger of their life is also in the fact that these rodents are able to absolutely imperceptibly penetrate into a human dwelling through the sewage and ventilation systems.
Despite the constant and serious struggle with rats and other rodents, it has not yet been possible to destroy them completely, but it is still possible to control the populations of these pests.
Specialists have established some deratization norms, which is associated with the optimal permissible percentage of the territory being freed from rodents.
Therefore, it is considered:
- 80% - the result is satisfactory.
- 90% is a good result.
- 95% - the result is excellent.
In this regard, it is generally accepted that the task of special services for deratization is to maintain in a certain area the permissible percentage of rodents that could not cause much damage to human life.
Classification of decorative rats depending on color
In this article, we have already examined what domestic rats are, depending on the shape of the body and on the type of their fur. But what colors can the hair of your pets have?
In the modern world, many scientists are constantly trying to breed completely new species of domestic rats. This is mainly due to medicine. As you know, these cute creatures are often used in science. Physicians around the world conduct various experiments on them, thus creating medicines for the treatment of various diseases. Thanks to these animals, scientists have tested a huge variety of medicines that undeniably help people survive.
For many years, different types of decorative rats have been crossed, as a result of which hybrid species have been bred.
As for the color of animal fur, they are mainly white, black, gray, brown, orange, blue, beige, black and white. The shade of the eyes also depends on the color of the hairline. Often, white-haired rats have black or red eyes. Species with a blue body tint are most often the owners of ruby-colored eyes.
There is also a separate species of rat, the coat of which has three colors. Such rocks are called mosaic. They are very rare in the modern world, therefore they are considered one of the most valuable. Moreover, the colors of this mosaic can be absolutely varied. Most often, the color contains a white tone or various light shades. An interesting fact is that this breed of rats does not inherit its color; monochromatic rats can be born in a tricolor female.
As you can see, there is a huge variety of breeds of decorative domestic rats. If you decide to get yourself such a small animal, then you will definitely not regret your choice. As soon as the pet gets used to you, it will become completely tame and dependent on the owners. These creatures are very friendly, and do not bite even when treated roughly.
Woolly Bosavi
The largest rat in the world lives on the African continent. Some specimens reach a length of up to one meter, weight up to one and a half kilograms, they are called giant marsupials.
A slightly smaller rat (80 centimeters), scientists found in New Guinea - a woolly Bosavi. Truly impressive in size, the rodent is about the size of a dog. These animals are not afraid of humans and are friendly towards him. These animals were discovered relatively recently, in a place remote from civilization. Giant rodents are not familiar with people, therefore they are not afraid, they allow themselves to be stroked and do not bite.
The largest rat in the world. It was discovered in 2009.researchers from England on the island of Papua New Guinea in the crater of the inactive volcano Bosavi. Hence, its second name arose - the Papuan rat. The mammal is over ninety centimeters long and weighs about one and a half kilograms.
Outwardly, it is no different from its counterparts, except for its dimensions. It is noteworthy that the animals turned out to be absolutely peaceful and were not afraid of people.
You can learn about effective poisons from this article.
Classification of rats according to body type
By body type, domestic rats are divided into main groups:
- Standard. Pets have a proportional physique. They are slender and quite pliable. The tail size of decorative rats is practically equal in size to the length of the whole body with the head. The shape of the tail tapers from base to tip. The eyes of this breed of pets are round, large. The ears are located on top of the head and are proportional in size. The fur of such animals shines slightly, and is located throughout the body. Standard rats are the largest decorative rodents. Their weight ranges from 300-500 grams, directly depends on the nutrition of the animal, as well as its gender. Females are more mobile. Their size from nose to tail reaches about 25 centimeters. Males can be larger.
- Dumbo rats. They originated in California. They were taken out in 1991. A distinctive feature of these animals is the structure and location of the ears. In the Dumbo breed, they are lower, not at the very top of the head. The shape is also different. The ears look rounder and wider. In these rats, they can be completely open, and also have a slightly bent upper edge. Some pets have a slightly protruding nape. The body shape of such a species of animals expands slightly at the back, resembling a pear. However, body parameters are less than those of other breeds.
- Tailless rats. The name of these rodents speaks for itself. These animals are characterized by the absence of a tail. Moreover, these animals can be both with wool and without it, wavy and curly. The color of the coat is also completely varied. The body shape is mainly pear-shaped.
"Apple of discord": capybara
Most people believe that the largest rat in the world is the capybara, living in South and Central America. On the one hand, they are somewhat right: the capybara reaches half a meter in height, a meter in length, and fifty kilograms in weight. However, it would be more correct to say that the capybara is the largest rodent, not a rat. The structure of the body and muzzle in her is very different from all known species of rats. Moreover, she has no tail from birth, claws are hoof-like, and the diet is exclusively vegetable, while most rats are omnivorous. So from a scientific point of view, it is wrong to consider a capybara a rat.
The biggest rats in Russia
It is very far from Russia to New Guinea, but for some reason the drivers of the Moscow metro like to retell scary stories about huge rats the size of a large dog living in underground tunnels. These gray monsters have burning green or red eyes, are distinguished by increased aggressiveness and complete immunity to all known poisons.
Officially in Russia, the largest rats do not exceed 40 cm. The myths about mutant rats are still just myths.
Chilling blood is far from reality, since in Russia the largest gray pikemen, when measured from nose to tip of tail, are no more than 40 cm long, and when measured to the base of the tail, it is 25 cm at all.Therefore, all the stories about huge rats monsters in Russia just fiction.
Gray rats weigh about 400 g, they live in sewers, basements, basements, feeding on the remains of food in city dumps. Pasyuks can live in burrows along the shores of lakes and rivers in warm weather, invading a person's dwelling in winter in search of food.Predatory rodents can eat any type of food, both animal and plant origin. The invasion of gray rats scares most people due to damage to property, aggression towards humans and dangerous infectious diseases that are carried by the beast.
The closest relative of gray Pasyukov are black rats that live in Russian dry basements and attics. Black animals are much smaller than their counterparts and have a body length of 22 cm and a weight of 300 g. Neither black nor gray pies can reach the size of a cat, and even more so a dog, therefore, it is possible to refer to tales of hordes of monster rats in Russia with an easy irony.
House rats were bred under sterile laboratory conditions and have become very popular pets. Small rodents, unlike their wild relatives, are distinguished by human orientation and strong attachment to the owner. Decorative rats have a developed mind, a sense of humor, the ability to empathize and laugh.
Decorative pets, depending on the breed and gender, reach 18-20 cm in size with a weight of 300-350 g. Of course, sometimes amateur rats boast photographs of large domestic rats with a body weight of about 500 g, but these records are the result of banal obesity against the background of overfeeding and lack of regular exercise.
Extinct winner
Not so long ago, scientists found that the largest rat in the world ceased to exist a thousand or two years ago. Excavations in southeast Asia, on the island of Timor, amazed archaeologists: they found skeletons of rats that weighed about six kilograms during their lifetime. Presumably, they reached a length of one and a half meters or more. Thus, it was the largest rat in the world in both weight and size - in contrast to modern representatives of the genus, who divided the laurels between the two species. Scientists believe that the reason for the extinction of the giants was human activity, accompanied by an active hunt for rodents that went for food.
