Rats are medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea that are generally larger than mice. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat (Rattus rattus) and the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus). Many members of other rodent genera and families are also referred to as rats, and share many characteristics with true rats. However, this tag should only be applied to members of the Rattus genus.

Black rats tend to fit the stereotype of "evil rat" (albeit without the morality alignment) than brown rats. The latter are much more sociable and have been observed showing what appears to be compassion towards others. These characteristics have lead brown rats to be bred as pets and laboratory animals although black rats and giant pouched rats (genus Cricetomys) as pets are not unknown.

"Fancy rat" is the term used for the domesticated brown rat and are commonly kept as pets, coming in many varieties. The dumbo rat is a mutation of the fancy rat known for their big side-set ears.

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Species:

• murine
• rat (Rattus)
• black_rat (R. rattus)
• brown_rat (R. norvegicus)
• fancy_rat (R. n. domestica)
• dumbo_rat
• blue_rat
• hairless_rat

More information:

Rat (Wikipedia)