View source for Rattus

{{Short description|Genus of rodents}}
{{For|the Finnish hardcore punk band|Rattus (band)}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| fossil_range = [[Early Pleistocene]] – Recent
| image = Rattus norvegicus 1.jpg
| image_caption = The [[brown rat]] (''Rattus norvegicus'')
| taxon = Rattus
| authority = [[Johann Fischer von Waldheim|Fischer de Waldheim]], 1803
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision = [[Rat species|68 species]]
| synonyms = {{Genus list
| Stenomys | Thomas, 1910
| Acanthomys | Gray, 1867
| Christomys | Sody, 1941
| Cironomys | Sody, 1941
| Epimys | Trouessart, 1881
| Geromys | Sody, 1941
| Mollicomys | Sody, 1941
| Octomys | Sody, 1941
| Pullomys | Sody, 1941
| Togomys | Dieterlen, 1989
}}
| synonyms_ref = <ref>{{ITIS|id=180361|taxon=''Rattus''|access-date=15 November 2021}}</ref>
| type_species = ''[[Rattus rattus|Mus rattus]]''
| type_species_authority = Linnaeus, 1758
}}
[[File:Van gogh-two rats-f177.jpg|thumb|''Two Rats'' by [[Vincent van Gogh]] (1884)]]

'''''Rattus''''' is a [[genus]] of [[muroid]] [[rodent]]s, all typically called '''rats'''. However, the term [[rat]] can also be applied to rodent [[species]] outside of this genus.

==Species and description==
The best-known ''Rattus'' [[species]] are the [[black rat]] (''R. rattus'') and the [[brown rat]] (''R. norvegicus''). The group is generally known as the [[Old World]] rats or true rats and originated in [[Asia]]. Rats are bigger than most Old World [[mouse|mice]], which are their relatives, but seldom weigh over {{convert|500|g|lb}} in the wild.

==Taxonomy of ''Rattus''==
The genus ''Rattus'' is a member of the giant subfamily [[Murinae]].

The genus ''Rattus'' proper contains 64 [[extant species]]. A subgeneric breakdown of the species has been proposed, but does not include all species.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Thomson |first1=Vicki |last2=Wiewel |first2=Andrew |last3=Chinen |first3=Aldo |last4=Maryanto |first4=Ibnu |last5=Sinaga |first5=M. H. |last6=How |first6=Ric |last7=Aplin |first7=Ken |last8=Suzuki |first8=Hitoshi |title=A perspective for resolving the systematics of ''Rattus'', the vertebrates with the most influence on human welfare |journal=Zootaxa |date=2018 |volume=4459 |issue=3 |pages=431–452 |doi=10.11646/zootaxa.4459.3.2|pmid=30314119 |s2cid=52975664 }}</ref>

===Species===
{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
Genus '''''Rattus''''' – Typical rats
* ''[[incertae sedis]]''
** [[Enggano rat]] (''Rattus enganus'') – [[Indonesia]] (potentially [[extinct]])
** [[Philippine forest rat]] (''Rattus everetti'') – the [[Philippines]]
** [[Polynesian rat]] or ''kiore'' (''Rattus exulans'') – originally native to [[Bangladesh]], [[Myanmar]], [[Thailand]], [[Cambodia]], [[Laos]], [[Vietnam]], [[Malaysia]], and Indonesia, but now introduced throughout the [[Pacific]] (including most [[Polynesia]]n, [[Melanesia]]n, and [[Micronesia]]n islands, most notably [[Fiji]], [[Papua New Guinea]], [[New Zealand]], [[Easter Island]] and [[Hawaii]]), as well as the Philippines, [[Brunei]], and [[Singapore]], origin uncertain in [[Taiwan]]
** [[Hainald's rat]] (''Rattus hainaldi'') – Indonesia
** [[Halmahera Island rat]] (''Rattus halmaheraensis'') - Indonesia
** [[Hoogerwerf's rat]] (''Rattus hoogerwerfi'') – Indonesia
** [[Korinch's rat]] (''Rattus korinchi'') – Indonesia
** †[[Maclear's rat]] (''Rattus macleari'') – [[Christmas Island]] (now extinct)
** [[Nillu rat]] (''Rattus montanus'') – [[Sri Lanka]]
** [[Moluccan prehensile-tailed rat]] (''Rattus morotaiensis'') – Indonesia
** †[[Bulldog rat]] (''Rattus nativitatis'') – Christmas Island (now extinct)
** [[Kerala rat]] (''Rattus ranjiniae'') – [[India]]
** [[New Ireland forest rat]] (''Rattus sanila'') – [[New Ireland Province|New Ireland]], Papua New Guinea (potentially extinct)
** [[Andaman rat]] (''Rattus stoicus'') – the [[Andaman Islands]], India
** [[Timor rat]] (''Rattus timorensis'') – [[Timor]]
* ''R. norvegicus'' group
** [[Himalayan field rat]] (''Rattus nitidus'') – originally native to [[Bhutan]], [[China]], India, Myanmar, [[Nepal]], Thailand, and Vietnam (presence uncertain in Bangladesh), but now introduced to Indonesia, the Philippines, and [[Palau]]
** [[Brown rat]] (''Rattus norvegicus'') – originally native to southeastern [[Siberia]], northeastern China, and parts of [[Japan]], but now introduced worldwide except Antarctica
** [[Turkestan rat]] (''Rattus pyctoris''; obs. ''Rattus turkestanicus'') – [[Afghanistan]], China, India, Iran, [[Kyrgyzstan]], [[Nepal]] and Pakistan
* ''R. rattus'' group
** [[Sunburned rat]] (''Rattus adustus'') – [[Enggano Island]], Indonesia
** [[Sikkim rat]] (''Rattus andamanensis'') – [[Bhutan]], [[Cambodia]], China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam
** [[Ricefield rat]] (''Rattus argentiventer'') – [[Southeast Asia]]
** [[Summit rat]] (''Rattus baluensis'') – [[Malaysia]]
** [[Aceh rat]] (''Rattus blangorum'') – Indonesia
** [[Nonsense rat]] (''Rattus burrus'') – the [[Nicobar Islands]], India
** [[Hoffmann's rat]] (''Rattus hoffmanni'') – Indonesia
** [[Koopman's rat]] (''Rattus koopmani'') – Indonesia
** [[Lesser ricefield rat]] (''Rattus losea'') – China, Laos, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam
** [[Mentawai rat]] (''Rattus lugens'') – Indonesia
** [[Mindoro black rat]] (''Rattus mindorensis'') – the Philippines
** [[Little soft-furred rat]] (''Rattus mollicomulus'') – Indonesia
** [[Osgood's rat]] (''Rattus osgoodi'') – Vietnam
** [[Palm rat]] (''Rattus palmarum'') – the Nicobar Islands, India
** [[Black rat]] (''Rattus rattus'') – originally native to western India and [[Pakistan]], but now introduced worldwide except Antarctica
** [[Little Indochinese field rat]] (''Rattus sakeratensis'') – Thailand and Laos
** [[Sahyadris forest rat]] (''Rattus satarae'') – India
** [[Simalur rat]] (''Rattus simalurensis'') – Indonesia
** [[Tanezumi rat]] (''Rattus tanezumi'') – [[Afghanistan]], Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, the [[Cocos (Keeling) Islands]], Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, [[North Korea]], [[South Korea]], Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam
** [[Tawitawi forest rat]] (''Rattus tawitawiensis'') – the Philippines
** [[Malayan field rat]] (''Rattus tiomanicus'') – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand
* ''R. xanthurus'' group
** [[Bonthain rat]] (''Rattus bontanus''; obs. ''Rattus foramineus'') – Indonesia
** [[Lore Lindu xanthurus rat]] (''Rattus facetus'') – Indonesia
** [[Opossum rat]] (''Rattus marmosurus'') – Indonesia
** [[Peleng rat]] (''Rattus pelurus'') – Indonesia
** [[Southeastern xanthurus rat]] (''Rattus salocco'') – Indonesia
** [[Yellow-tailed rat]] (''Rattus xanthurus'') – Indonesia
* ''R. leucopus'' group (New Guinean group)
** [[Vogelkop mountain rat]] (''Rattus arfakiensis'')
** [[Western New Guinea mountain rat]] (''Rattus arrogans'')
** [[Manus Island spiny rat]] (''Rattus detentus'') – [[Manus Island]] and potentially [[Los Negros]], Papua New Guinea
** [[Sula rat]] (''Rattus elaphinus'') – Indonesia
** [[Spiny Ceram rat]] (''Rattus feliceus'') – Indonesia
** [[Giluwe rat]] (''Rattus giluwensis'') – Papua New Guinea
** [[Japen rat]] (''Rattus jobiensis'') – Indonesia
** [[Cape York rat]] (''Rattus leucopus'') – Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
** [[Eastern rat]] (''Rattus mordax'') – Papua New Guinea
** [[Gag Island rat]] (''Rattus nikenii'') – Indonesia
** [[Moss-forest rat]] (''Rattus niobe'') – Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
** [[New Guinean rat]] (''Rattus novaeguineae'') – Papua New Guinea
** [[Arianus's rat]] (''Rattus omichlodes'') – Indonesia
** [[Pocock's highland rat]] (''Rattus pococki'') – Indonesia, Papua New Guinea
** [[Large New Guinea spiny rat]] (''Rattus praetor'') – Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the [[Solomon Islands]]
** [[Glacier rat]] (''Rattus richardsoni'') – Indonesia
** [[Stein's rat]] (''Rattus steini'') – Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
** [[Van Deusen's rat]] (''Rattus vandeuseni'') – Papua New Guinea
** [[Slender rat]] (''Rattus verecundus'') – Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
* ''R. fuscipes'' group (Australian group)
** [[Dusky rat]] (''Rattus colletti'') – Australia
** [[Bush rat]] (''Rattus fuscipes'') – Australia
** [[Australian swamp rat]] (''Rattus lutreolus'') – Australia
** [[Dusky field rat]] (''Rattus sordidus'') – Australia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea
** [[Pale field rat]] (''Rattus tunneyi'') – Australia
** [[Long-haired rat]] (''Rattus villosissimus'') – Australia
}}

===Phylogeny===
The following phylogeny of selected ''Rattus'' species is from {{harvp|Pagès|Chaval|Herbreteau|Waengsothorn|2010}}.<ref>
{{cite journal
 | last1 = Pagès   | first1 = Marie           | last2 = Chaval  | first2 = Yannick
 | last3 = Herbreteau | first3 = Vincent      | last4 = Waengsothorn | first4 = Surachit
 | last5 = Cosson  | first5 = Jean-François   | last6 = Hugot   | first6 = Jean-Pierre
 | last7 = Morand  | first7 = Serge           | last8 = Michaux | first8 = Johan
 | display-authors = 6
 | year = 2010
 | title = Revisiting the taxonomy of the Rattini tribe: A phylogeny-based delimitation of species boundaries
 | journal = BMC Evolutionary Biology
 | volume = 10 | issue = 1 | page = 184
 | doi = 10.1186/1471-2148-10-184  | doi-access = free
 | pmid = 20565819 | pmc = 2906473 | bibcode = 2010BMCEE..10..184P
}}
</ref>
{{clade
 |style=font-size:90%;line-height:85%
 |label1={{big|[[Rattini]]}}
 |sublabel1=([[tribe (biology)|tribe]])
 |1={{clade
    |label1=
    |1={{clade
       |label1=''[[Berylmys]]''
       |1={{clade
          |label1=
          |1=''[[Berylmys bowersi]]''
          |2=''[[Berylmys berdmorei]]''
          }}
       }}
    |2={{clade
       |label1=''[[Bandicota]]''
       |1={{clade
          |label1=
          |1=''[[Bandicota savilei]]''
          |2=''[[Bandicota indica]]''
          }}
       |label2='''''Rattus'''''
       |2={{clade
          |label1=
          |1={{clade
             |label1=
             |1=''[[Rattus nitidus]]''
             |2=''[[Rattus norvegicus]]''
             }}
          |2={{clade
             |label1=
             |1=''[[Rattus exulans]]''
             |2={{clade
                |label1=
                |1=''[[Rattus andamanensis]]''
                |2={{clade
                   |label1=
                   |1=''[[Rattus argentiventer]]''
                   |2={{clade
                      |label1=
                      |1={{clade
                         |label1=
                         |1=''[[Rattus tiomanicus]]''
                         |2=''[[Rattus losea]]''
                         }}
                      |2={{clade
                         |label1=
                         |1=other '''''Rattus''''' spp.{{explain|date=September 2024}}
                         |2={{clade
                            |1=''[[Rattus tanezumi]]''
                            |2=''[[Rattus rattus]]''
                            }}
                         }}
                      }}
                   }}
                }}
             }}
          }}
       }}
    }}
 }}

== Evolution ==
Molecular [[evidence]] suggests that ''Rattus'' originated in the [[Late Miocene]] and that it experienced an exceptionally rapid burst of diversification during the [[Pleistocene]] [[Geologic time scale|epoch]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chaimanee |first=Yaowalak |last2=Jaeger |first2=Jean‐Jacques |date=January 2001 |title=Evolution of Rattus (mammalia, Rodentia) during the plio‐pleistocene in Thailand |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10292380109380590 |journal=[[Historical Biology]] |language=en |volume=15 |issue=1-2 |pages=181–191 |doi=10.1080/10292380109380590 |issn=0891-2963 |access-date=30 September 2025 |via=Taylor and Francis Online|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

===Fossil species===
In contrast to the large number of living species, as of 2024, just four fossil species have been placed in ''Rattus'' proper:<ref name=Chang2023>{{cite journal |last1= Chang |first1= M.|last2= Zhang |first2= C. |display-authors=etal |date= January 2023 |title= A new ''Rattus'' species and its associated micromammals from the Pliocene Yangyi Formation in Baoshan, Western Yunnan, China|journal= Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology |volume= 43 |issue= 1 |article-number= e2249063 |doi= 10.1080/02724634.2023.2249063}}</ref>

* ''Rattus baoshanensis'' - Late [[Pliocene]] China
* ''Rattus jaegeri'' - Late Pliocene to Early [[Pleistocene]] Thailand
* ''Rattus pristinus'' - Early Pleistocene China
* ''Rattus miyakoensis'' - Late Pleistocene Japan<ref name=Kawaguchi2009>{{cite journal |last1= Kawaguchi |first1= S.|last2= Kaneko |first2= Y. |last3 = Hasegawa |first3 = Y. |date= 2009 |title= A new species of the fossil murine rodent from the Pinza-Abu Cave, the Miyako Island of the Ryukyo Archipelago, Japan |url= https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1050287772313371136 |journal= Bulletin of Gunma Museum of Natural History |volume= 13 |pages= 15–28 |doi= |access-date= 3 March 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|25em}}

{{Murinae (Rattus)}}
{{Myomorpha|E.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q36396}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rattus| ]]
[[Category:Rats|.]]
[[Category:Rodent genera]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Gotthelf Fischer von Waldheim]]
[[Category:Extant Pleistocene first appearances]]