A typical adult black rat is 12.75 to 18.25 cm long, not including a 15 to 22 cm tail, and weighs 75 to 230 g, depending on the subspecies. Individuals weigh between 70 and 300 g, and are between 16 and 22 cm in head and body length and a tail length of 19 cm or longer.
A single female can spawn five litters in a year, each after a gestation that may be as short as three weeks, yet most wild rats die after just twelve months. Black rats typically breed year-round, and females can produce up to 5 litters in one season. Female rats' gestation period can range from 12 to 29 days. Black rats typically live for about one year in the wild and up to four years in captivity.
Males three times larger than females, roaming up to 1.2 ha. The black rat has a wide home range, typically foraging in a home range of 0.28-1.2 ha (0.69-2.97 acres). Its home range is highly dependent on its gender, as male rats range can be up to thrice that of female rats.
It appearing in Britain by 800 BCE, and carries a distinct chromosome count that marks its Asian ancestry. R. rattus specimens have been found dating back to 800 BCE in Britain, although it is unclear how they migrated there. The black rat spread throughout Europe with the Roman conquest, but declined around the 6th century... The black rat in the Mediterranean region differs genetically from its South Asian ancestor by having 38 instead of 42 chromosomes. These genetic clues trace its journey from India to every continent.
It once was blamed for the Black Death. Black rats (or their ectoparasites) can carry a number of pathogens, of which bubonic plague (via the Oriental rat flea), typhus, Weil's disease, toxoplasmosis and trichinosis are the best known. Black rats are the main transmitter of bubonic plague, or Yersinia pestis, which they spread indirectly through the fleas they carry. However, archaeological evidence indicates that R. rattus might not have been present during the Black Death in England, suggesting that the plague was spread by another species.
Sources
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In the shadowy recesses of human endeavour, the black rat weaves its unassuming existence, a master of stealth and adaptability as it navigates the hidden latticework of walls and rafters with ease. With nimble feet and an inquisitive snout, it probes the darkest crevices, ever-vigilant for the whispers of food and shelter, its very presence a testament to the enduring legacy of human activity. As it moves through the world, the black rat embodies a paradox of resilience and obscurity, a humble yet remarkable creature that thrives in the overlooked corners of our dominion.
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