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Roof Rat: Rattus rattus
The roof rat is also known as the black rat, ship rat, gray-bellied rat, Alexandrine rat and white-bellied rat. Roof rats are smaller and sleeker in appearance than the Norway rat. Adults weigh between 5 and 9 ounces. The color of fur is usually grayish black to solid black, the belly varies from buff-white to all gray. The snout is pointed; the ears are large and reach the eyes when pulled down. The tail is long, and reaches the snout when pulled over the body.
Roof rats can be thought of as the “vegetarians” of the rats as they prefer to eat seeds and plant foods such as fresh vegetables or fruits. The roof rat is named because by nature it is a climber and commonly lives above the ground in “roof” or aerial areas around structures.
Although there are specific differences in behavior between the roof and Norway rat, most of the general behavior patterns of rats are similar.
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