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Questions and Answers
Why are rats found in every country around the world?
What is the main reason why rats are a successful species?
What is a unique feature of a rat's mouth?
What is the main reason why rats do not need to see much?
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What sense do rats use to feel new places before entering?
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What do rats spend several hours each day doing?
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What was the actual cause of the 'Black Death' in the 14th century?
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Why is it important to separate rat facts from rat myths?
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Study Notes
Rats: Facts and Fiction
- Rats are the most common mammal on Earth, living on every continent except Antarctica.
- Humans introduced rats to new parts of the world through ships and exploration, leading to their widespread presence.
Diet and Adaptation
- Rats are omnivores, consuming a wide range of food including grains, seeds, nuts, flowers, leaves, insects, birds, reptiles, fish, and eggs.
- Their mouths are adapted to bite through various materials like wood, copper, aluminum, and some concrete.
Senses and Survival
- Rats have a poor sense of sight, but this is compensated by their strong senses of touch and hearing.
- They use long, sensitive hairs on their face to feel new environments before entering.
- Their hearing is exceptional, allowing them to detect sounds inaudible to humans.
Behavior and Hygiene
- Rats are clean animals, spending several hours daily cleaning themselves and other rats.
- They communicate with each other through special sounds.
Misconceptions and Diseases
- Rats were incorrectly blamed for causing the Black Death, a pandemic that killed over 75 million people in the 14th century.
- The disease was actually spread by insects that lived on the rats.
Coexistence
- It is essential to separate rat facts from myths to better understand and coexist with this successful species.
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Description
Learn about rats, the most common mammal on Earth, including their diet, adaptation, and widespread presence across the globe.
