What is the rat scientific name? Rattus is the biological name for the rat.
Rats are among the most common mammals on Earth, known for their adaptability, intelligence, and ecological importance. In this guide, we discuss the scientific names of rats, their biological classification, types of rats, their pronunciation, and meanings, as well as interesting facts about some other species, such as the kangaroo rat and the naked mole rat.
Table of Contents
What is the scientific name for a rat?
The most common type of rat is the brown rat, also known as the Norway rat.
- Brown rat scientific name: Rattus norvegicus
Another common type is the black rat:
- Black rad scientific name: Rattus rattus
Biological Classification of Rats
Here is the complete scientific classification of a common rat (for example, the brown rat):
| Taxonomic Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Rodentia |
| Family | Muridae |
| Genus | Rattus |
| Species | norvegicus |
Rats are rodents, making them part of the largest order of mammals, known for their ever-growing incisors.
Brown Rat Scientific Name Pronunciation
The scientific name for the brown rat is Rattus norvegicus, pronounced:
- RAH-tus nor-veh-JEE-kus
Breaking it down:
- Rattus = “rat-us”
- norvegicus = “nor-veh-jee-kus”
The ability to use appropriate pronunciation while speaking or writing enhances professional language skills in biological or educational settings.
💡 Meaning and symbolism of rats
In most cultures, rats convey different meanings:
- In Chinese culture: Clever and resourceful; one of 12 zodiac animals.
- In Western cultures: Sometimes regarded as pests but also as a symbol of survival and intelligence.
- In science: Used in laboratories for experiments because of genetic similarities to human beings.
Fun facts about rats
- Rats are incredibly intelligent and can understand difficult tasks.
- Their ever-growing teeth can only be shortened by constant chewing.
- However, some breeds of rats can withstand falls from heights due to their low weight.
- Scientists are exploiting rats to study diseases and their impact on research in psychology and genetics.
Kangaroo Rat and Naked Mole Rat: Not true rat types
The kangaroo rat is not a true rat, but a Dipodomys. It is more closely related to pocket mice. Kangaroo rats are characterized throughout the family as having long hind legs and moving in a kangaroo-like form. This rodent inhabits hot, dry areas in North America.
The naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) is not a rat either. It lives below ground in East Africa and has social structures resembling ants or bees. The two are rodents but not in the genus Rattus, which consists of true rats like the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus). Their naming, therefore, is based on appearance or social characteristics rather than real classification.
📢 Want to find more species with full scientific classification? Check out our full scientific name search tool.
120 Rat Species and Their Scientific Names
| Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|
| Brown Rat | Rattus norvegicus |
| Black Rat | Rattus rattus |
| Polynesian Rat | Rattus exulans |
| Bush Rat | Rattus fuscipes |
| Australian Swamp Rat | Rattus lutreolus |
| Dusky Field Rat | Rattus sordidus |
| Ricefield Rat | Rattus argentiventer |
| Lesser Ricefield Rat | Rattus losea |
| Malayan Field Rat | Rattus tiomanicus |
| Long-haired Rat | Rattus villosissimus |
| Cape York Rat | Rattus leucopus |
| Pale Field Rat | Rattus tunneyi |
| Slender Rat | Rattus verecundus |
| Yellow-tailed Rat | Rattus xanthurus |
| Korinch’s Rat | Rattus korinchi |
| Maclear’s Rat | Rattus macleari |
| Opossum Rat | Rattus marmosurus |
| Mindoro Black Rat | Rattus mindorensis |
| Little Soft-furred Rat | Rattus mollicomulus |
| Nillu Rat | Rattus montanus |
| Timor Rat | Rattus timorensis |
| Van Deusen’s Rat | Rattus vandeuseni |
| Bonthain Rat | Rattus bontanus |
| Lore Lindu Xanthurus Rat | Rattus facetus |
| Peleng Rat | Rattus pelurus |
| Southeastern Xanthurus Rat | Rattus salocco |
| Bonthain Rat | Rattus bontanus |
| Vogelkop Mountain Rat | Rattus arfakiensis |
| Western New Guinea Mountain Rat | Rattus arrogans |
| Enggano Rat | Rattus enganus |
| Philippine Forest Rat | Rattus everetti |
| Sula Rat | Rattus elaphinus |
| Giluwe Rat | Rattus giluwensis |
| Hainald’s Rat | Rattus hainaldi |
| Hoffmann’s Rat | Rattus hoffmanni |
| Hoogerwerf’s Rat | Rattus hoogerwerfi |
| Japen Rat | Rattus jobiensis |
| Koopman’s Rat | Rattus koopmani |
| Mentawai Rat | Rattus lugens |
| Summit Rat | Rattus baluensis |
| Aceh Rat | Rattus blangorum |
| Dusky Rat | Rattus colletti |
| Manus Island Spiny Rat | Rattus detentus |
| Spiny Ceram Rat | Rattus feliceus |
| Hainald’s Rat | Rattus hainaldi |
| Korinch’s Rat | Rattus korinchi |
| Lesser Ricefield Rat | Rattus losea |
| Mentawai Rat | Rattus lugens |
| Australian Swamp Rat | Rattus lutreolus |
| Maclear’s Rat | Rattus macleari |
| Opossum Rat | Rattus marmosurus |
| Mindoro Black Rat | Rattus mindorensis |
| Little Soft-furred Rat | Rattus mollicomulus |
| Nillu Rat | Rattus montanus |
| Timor Rat | Rattus timorensis |
| Malayan Field Rat | Rattus tiomanicus |
| Pale Field Rat | Rattus tunneyi |
| Van Deusen’s Rat | Rattus vandeuseni |
| Slender Rat | Rattus verecundus |
| Long-haired Rat | Rattus villosissimus |
| Yellow-tailed Rat | Rattus xanthurus |
| Indochinese Forest Rat | Rattus andamanensis |
| Annandale’s Rat | Rattus annandalei |
| Vogelkop Mountain Rat | Rattus arfakiensis |
| Rice-field Rat | Rattus argentiventer |
| Polynesian Rat | Rattus exulans |
| Australian Swamp Rat | Rattus lutreolus |
| Brown Rat | Rattus norvegicus |
| House Rat | Rattus rattus |
| Bonthain Rat | Rattus bontanus |
| Lore Lindu Xanthurus Rat | Rattus facetus |
| Opossum Rat | Rattus marmosurus |
| Peleng Rat | Rattus pelurus |
| Southeastern Xanthurus Rat | Rattus salocco |
| Yellow-tailed Rat | Rattus xanthurus |
| Vogelkop Mountain Rat | Rattus arfakiensis |
| Western New Guinea Mountain Rat | Rattus arrogans |
| Enggano Rat | Rattus enganus |
| Philippine Forest Rat | Rattus everetti |
| Sula Rat | Rattus elaphinus |
| Giluwe Rat | Rattus giluwensis |
| Hainald’s Rat | Rattus hainaldi |
| Hoffmann’s Rat | Rattus hoffmanni |
| Hoogerwerf’s Rat | Rattus hoogerwerfi |
| Japen Rat | Rattus jobiensis |
| Koopman’s Rat | Rattus koopmani |
| Korinch’s Rat | Rattus korinchi |
| Cape York Rat | Rattus leucopus |
| Lesser Ricefield Rat | Rattus losea |
| Mentawai Rat | Rattus lugens |
| Australian Swamp Rat | Rattus lutreolus |
| Maclear’s Rat | Rattus macleari |
| Opossum Rat | Rattus marmosurus |
| Mindoro Black Rat | Rattus mindorensis |
| Little Soft-furred Rat | Rattus mollicomulus |
| Nillu Rat | Rattus montanus |
| Timor Rat | Rattus timorensis |
| Malayan Field Rat | Rattus tiomanicus |
