They may cause substantial food losses, especially in developing countries. The common species are opportunistic survivors and often live with and near humans therefore, they are known as commensals. A group of rats is referred to as a mischief. Male rats are called bucks unmated females, does, pregnant or parent females, dams and infants, kittens or pups. Rats such as the bandicoot rat ( Bandicota bengalensis) are murine rodents related to true rats but are not members of the genus Rattus. Examples include the North American pack rats (aka wood rats ) and a number of species loosely called kangaroo rats. The term rat is also used in the names of other small mammals that are not true rats. Rats are bigger than most Old World mice, which are their relatives, but seldom weigh over 500 grams ( 17 + 1⁄ 2 oz) in the wild. This group, generally known as the Old World rats or true rats, originated in Asia. The best-known rat species are the black rat ( Rattus rattus) and the brown rat ( Rattus norvegicus). Skeleton of a black rat ( Rattus rattus) on display at the Museum of Osteology. There are 56 known species of rats in the world. The common terms rat and mouse are not taxonomically specific. Usually the common name of a large muroid rodent will include the word "rat", while a smaller muroid's name will include "mouse". Rats are typically distinguished from mice by their size. Other rat genera include Neotoma ( pack rats), Bandicota ( bandicoot rats) and Dipodomys ( kangaroo rats).
Species of rats are found throughout the order Rodentia, but stereotypical rats are found in the genus Rattus. Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents. JSTOR ( September 2019) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message).
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