Rat Behavior and Biology (Anne's rat page)

Welcome to my website about rats. I have written a number of articles about rat behavior and biology. These articles are based on my study of the scientific literature available on rats and on my own observations of rat behavior.



Rat Behavior Norway rat behavior repertoire

Expanded articles: Aggression Rat play How do rats choose what to eat? Why do rats pee everywhere?

Also: Urine marking Infanticide Communal nesting

What is my rat doing? FAQ

Glossary of rat behavior terms

Norway rat vocalizations

Glass-sided digging box

Rats and mazes Rat maze simulator Paper and pencil mazes

The Rat's Sensory World Introduction: Journey into a rat's world Vision: What do rats see? Touch: The world through a rat's whiskers Smell: The rat's world of smell Hearing: What do rats hear? Taste: Tasting Foods Hearing with whiskers

Rat Cam : short movies through a rat's eyes

Rats under a black light Rat Biology Rat Anatomy Rat tails , Rat teeth , Rat claws , Rat eyes Those red tears: porphyrin and the Norway rat Why are rat testicles so big? Why rats can't vomit Are rats right-handed? The rat's pubic symphysis The dumbo rat mutation and human analogues Do rats have a collapsible skeleton?

Rat Coat Biology Where do rat coat colors come from? Coat color, temperament, and domestication

Also: coat color and temperament in rats, deermice White blazes and megacolon Australian blue rats: a hypothesis Where do rat coat types come from?

Also: hairless mutation in mice and humans. How do albino rats differ from pigmented rats?

Biological statistics of the Norway rat

How soon can female rats conceive after giving birth?

Rat rigor mortis Rat Systematics Rat species, strains, breeds, and varieties

Can Norway rats and roof rats interbreed? Quiz: Norway rat or roof rat?

Rats and mice: what's the difference? Quiz: rat or mouse?

Are rat-mouse hybrids possible?

Taxonomy of rodent pets

History of the Norway rat Wild Rats Wild rat behavior

Wild rats in captivity, domestic rats in the wild

Wild rats and disease

Wild rat bites

Do rats have a dry bite?

Map of wild Norway rats in California Rat Health Notes Tumors and spaying

Spaying and post-spay tumor incidence in a pet rat population

What does neutering do?

Pregnancy and mammary tumors

How soon can female rats conceive after giving birth?

White blazes and megacolon

Australian blue rats: a hypothesis

Male rat weight

How old is a rat in human years?

Martin's cage overview

Dirty cages aggravate mycoplasma

Also see research article

Comparative studies of different types of rat bedding

I've also written some fun stuff about rats -- illustrated stories, spoofs, rat artwork, and an interactive quiz. Enjoy!



Rat Humor

Updates: Last updated November 29, 2012.

