|
2003 Viewers
ICS/IMT Viewer®
Access®
Excel®
Power Point®
Visio®
Word®
Envoy®
|
Medical Entomology
~Rodents~
| Characteristic |
Norway Rat
 |
Roof Rat
 |
House Mouse
 |
| General appearance |
large, robust
|
Sleek, graceful
|
small, slender
|
| Adult size |
|
|
|
|
weight
|
7-18 oz
|
5-9 oz
|
½ - 1 oz
|
| Length |
|
|
|
|
head & body
|
7-9.5 in
|
6-8 in
|
2-3.5 in
|
|
tail
|
6-8 in
|
7-10 in
|
3-4 in
|
| Snout |
blunt
|
pointed
|
pointed
|
| Ears |
small, covered with short hairs; do not reach eyes
|
large, nearly naked; can be pulled over eyes
|
large, some hair
|
| Eyes |
small
|
large, prominent
|
small
|
| Tail |
dark above, pale beneath
|
uniformly dark
|
uniformly dark
|
| Fur |
brown with scattered black; shaggy
|
grey to black; smooth
|
light brown, light gray; smooth
|
| Droppings |
capsule shaped, 3/4 in
|
spindle shaped, 1/2 in
|
rod shaped, 1/2 in
|
| Senses |
|
|
|
|
Sight
|
poor, color blind
|
poor, color blind
|
poor, color blind
|
|
Smell, Taste, Hearing
|
excellent
|
excellent
|
excellent
|
| Food |
omnivorous; often preference for meats
0.8-1 oz per day
|
omnivorous; especially fruits, nuts, grains vegetables;
0.5-1 oz day
|
omnivorous, prefers cereal grains;
0.1 oz per day
|
| Water |
15-30 ml/day
|
15-30 ml/day
|
3-9 ml/day; can subsist without free water
|
| Feeding habits |
shy to new objects; steady eater
|
shy to new objects; steady eater
|
inquisitive; nibbler
|
| Climbing |
readily climbs; limited agility
|
very agile, active climber
|
good climber
|
| Nests |
usually burrows
|
walls, attics, trees
|
within buildings, stored food
|
| Home range radius |
98-164 ft
|
98-164 ft
|
10-33 ft
|
| Age at mating (months) |
2-3
|
2-3
|
1.5-2
|
| Breeding season |
spring and fall peaks
|
spring and fall peaks
|
year long
|
| Gestation period (days) |
22
|
22
|
19
|
| Young per litter |
8-12
|
4-8
|
4-7
|
| Litters per year |
4-7
|
4-6
|
8
|
| Length of life |
1 year
|
1 year
|
1 year
|
|
