Norway rat
Common sewer dweller
The Norway rat is the common brown rat found worldwide, typically gray-brown with a lighter belly, larger than the black rat it has largely displaced.
Despite the name, it likely originated in Asia, not Norway.
It thrives near human settlements, living in sewers, basements, and garbage areas: The city launched a campaign against Norway rats in the subway system.
Pest takeover situation
- verminHarmful small animals
- exterminationComplete destruction of a group
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- poisonHarmful ingested substance
bait · trap · nuisance · scavenger · filth · sanitation · public health · hantavirus
Facial sensory hairs
- gnawingPersistent biting action
- incisorsFront cutting teeth
- tailRear animal appendage
- furAnimal body hair
burrow · nocturnal · omnivore · scurry · paws · foraging · nesting · teeth
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- non-nativeNot indigenous here
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- biodiversityRange of life forms
introduction · spread · competition · habitat destruction · ecological impact · eradication · biosecurity · proliferation
Capacity to recover quickly
- versatilityCapacity for varied applications
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- acclimatizationAdjusting to new conditions
- hardinessAbility to endure adversity
robustness · commensal · opportunistic · generalist · survival · tolerance · neophobia · intelligence
infestation
Pest takeover situation
- verminHarmful small animals
- exterminationComplete destruction of a group
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
poison · bait · trap · nuisance · scavenger · filth · sanitation · public health · hantavirus · leptospirosis
whiskers
Facial sensory hairs
fur · burrow · nocturnal · omnivore · scurry · paws · foraging · nesting · teeth · mammal
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- non-nativeNot indigenous here
- colonizationForeign territorial takeover
- displacementRemoval from usual location
biodiversity · introduction · spread · competition · habitat destruction · ecological impact · eradication · biosecurity · proliferation · stowaway
resilience
Capacity to recover quickly
- versatilityCapacity for varied applications
- resourcefulnessAbility to solve problems creatively
- acclimatizationAdjusting to new conditions
hardiness · robustness · commensal · opportunistic · generalist · survival · tolerance · neophobia · intelligence · learning
Norway ratfancy rat
Selectively bred domestic rodent
pet rat · laboratory rat · white rat · pet mouse · fancy mouse
Norway ratnative species
Organisms originating in a region
endemic species · beneficial insect · pollinator · keystone species · endangered species
Norway ratcompanion animal
Domesticated animal kept for company
pet · domestic cat · house cat · livestock · service animal