Taxonomy

The Norway rat is a grayish or brownish rodent covered with coarse fur. The key feature is the hairless tail which reaches the ears when curled over the animal’s back. The tail is dark on top and lighter underneath.

Norway rats have small eyes and small ears which are held close to their body.

Rats must chew continuously to wear down their front teeth which grow continuously, up to 10 cm in one year.

Often, infestations by these nocturnal mammals are identified by the presence of their droppings. An adult rat can deposit more than 150 droppings per day.