Rats Facts & Worksheets

Premium

Download the Rats Facts & Worksheets

Click the button below to get instant access to these worksheets for use in the classroom or at a home.

Download This Worksheet

This download is exclusively for KidsKonnect Premium members!
To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download!

Sign Me Up

Already a member? Log in to download.

Download

Edit This Worksheet

Editing resources is available exclusively for KidsKonnect Premium members.
To edit this worksheet, click the button below to signup (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start editing!

Sign Up

Already a member? Log in to download.

Edit

This worksheet can be edited by Premium members using the free Google Slides online software. Click the Edit button above to get started.

A rat is a rodent that has a long tail, a medium-sized body, long legs, rounded ears, and strong senses of smell and hearing. Rats typically live underground and are mostly active at night. The term mischief is used to refer to a group of rats. There are 56 known species of rats.

See the fact file below for more information on Rats, or you can download our 28-page Rats worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

NAME & TAXONOMY

• Rats are mammals commonly referred to as rodents.
• The term for a group of rats is mischief.
• At times, a rat is called a mouse due to their physical similarities.
• Male rats are called bucks, while female rats are referred to as does.
• Pups or pinkies are names used for baby rats.
• In terms of scientific classification, rats belong to the kingdom Animalia; the phylum Chordata; the class Mammalia; the clade Simplicidentata, together with lagomorphs; and the order Rodentia, just like mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, squirrels, porcupines, beavers, and prairie dogs.
• Typical rats belong to the genus Rattus. There are three other rat genera: Neotoma for pack rats or woodrats, Bandicota for bandicoots, and Dipodomys for kangaroo rats.

SIZE & WEIGHT

• What makes rats immediately distinguishable from mice is their size; they are medium-sized, while mice are smaller and have a more slender physique.
• The average size of rats is 20 inches long and weighs around 12 ounces, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.
• The biggest rat ever discovered is the Bosavi woolly rat, which measured over 32 inches long and exceeded three pounds in weight.

PHYSIOLOGY

• Rats can move their eyes in opposite directions, which enables them to be fully aware of their surroundings and spot predators around them.
• Rats’ sense of smell is very strong. Rats have reportedly been used to spot landmines because of their strong sense of smell.
• Rats also have an excellent sense of hearing; their ears are able to register high-pitched sounds that can’t be heard by humans.
• You can also tell their mood by their ears.
• For instance, if they are in a happy state of mind, their ears appear a bit more pinkish and droopy.
• Their teeth are very sturdy, and strong and do not stop growing.
• They regulate the size of their teeth by constantly nibbling, chewing, and wearing them down.
• Their teeth can chew through nearly any material, from plastic to aluminum, from wood to soft concrete. That’s how strong their teeth are.
• Not only are the tails of rats long, hairless, and thin-skinned – they are also incredibly used for maintaining balance.
• By directing body heat through their tails, rats are also able to keep themselves cool.
• Rats’ whiskers are extremely sensitive.
• Whenever a rat brushes its long hair against a surface, it can visualize and memorize its environment.

COLOR

• Rats do not just come in black and brown colors. There are also white, gray, and red rats.
• Multi-colored and spotted rats are often those bred as pets.

HABITAT

• Historically, rats have been all over the world, just like humans.
• Wherever humans would settle, rats would find ways to be there as well by stowing away on boats, for example.
• Currently, there are rats virtually anywhere in the world, in a variety of habitats.
• Rats thrive in terrestrial and arboreal environments.
• Some species also choose to inhabit non-arboreal areas.
• The brown rat (Rattus norvegicus), or the Norway rat, is terrestrial and inhabits every continent except Antarctica. 
• The roof rat (Rattus rattus), another common North American rat species, prefers arboreal areas and elevated parts in houses.
• The most common indigenous species in Australia is called the bush rat, while the rice field rat is found throughout Southeast Asia.

DIET

• It is a myth that rats eat any and every kind of food or material.
• A rat’s diet depends on its species and habitat.
• House rats have evolved into being able to eat whatever’s digestible and available in the area. 
• Brown rats, on the other hand, are omnivorous, but they can also have a carnivorous diet, which includes insects, bird eggs, shrimp, mussels, and snails.
• In terms of habitat, rats in rainforests typically eat only fruit, seeds, insects, and worms.
• Brown rats, on the other hand, are omnivorous, but they can also have a carnivorous diet, which includes insects, bird eggs, shrimp, mussels, and snails.
• In terms of habitat, rats in rainforests typically eat only fruit, seeds, insects, and worms.

REPRODUCTION & LIFE SPAN

• Rats are known to be efficient in breeding; tropical species do so throughout the year.
• They quickly multiply when settling in a new area to make the most of the food supply.
• By the time rats are five weeks old, they can already start to breed.
• Females are fertile every three weeks and can reproduce up to 500 times in 6 hours when they’re fertile.
• They may produce up to 12 litters in a year as the gestation period spans 21 to 26 days.
• The size of a litter can contain up to 22 offspring, with an average of 8 or 9. 
• Rats have an average life span of 1 to 2 years.
• Female rats typically have longer lifespans than males.
• Domestic rats also often live longer than those that live in the wild.

FUN FACTS

• Rats are highly social. In fact, if rats are isolated from their pack, they get stressed.
• Rats are nocturnal animals, meaning they are mostly active at night.
• There are more rats than humans, but because they live underground, we can’t see all of them at once.
• What makes rats excellent swimmers is their ability to hold their breath for several minutes.
• Rats keep themselves clean by licking their fur and using their teeth to comb it.
• Rats inhabit all continents, except Antarctica.
• Apparently, rats poop a lot—leaving up to 25,000 droppings per year!
• Rats are notorious carriers of diseases, such as bubonic plague, leptospirosis, and typhus.
• The kangaroo rat can actually survive without water throughout its average 10-year lifespan.
• If you want to keep a rat as a pet, the most common species for this purpose is the fancy rat (Rattus norvegicus domestica).
• Rats are part of the Chinese zodiac; people born in the Years of the Rat (1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, and 2020) are said to be intelligent, energetic, and witty.

Rats Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Rats across 28 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Rats. A rat is a rodent that has a long tail, a medium-sized body, long legs, rounded ears, and strong senses of smell and hearing.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Rats Facts
2. Rat or Wrong?
3. Spot The Rats
4. Correct Choices
5. Effective Breeders
6. Rat Bingo
7. One Part, One Fact
8. Idiom Time
9. Creative Storytelling
10. Fun From Fables
11. Rats Review

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average lifespan of a rat?

The average lifespan of a rat is around 2-3 years. However, some rats can live up to 4-5 years with proper care and nutrition.

Can rats be trained?

Yes, rats are highly intelligent and can be trained to do various tasks. They can learn tricks, navigate mazes, and even perform complex behaviors in laboratory experiments.

Are rats social animals?

Yes, rats are social animals and thrive in groups. They establish strong bonds with their fellow rats and enjoy playing and grooming each other. It is important to keep rats in pairs or groups to promote their well-being.

Do rats carry diseases?

Rats can carry a variety of diseases, such as leptospirosis, hantavirus, and salmonella. However, the risk of contracting these diseases from pet rats is low if proper hygiene and care are maintained.

What is the difference between a rat and a mouse?

Rats are larger than mice, with a more robust body structure and longer tails. They also have larger ears and a more pointed snout compared to mice. Rats are also more social than mice and are often kept as pets, while mice are less commonly kept as pets.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Rats Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, March 23, 2023