Podcast
Questions and Answers
Why are rats found in every country around the world?
Why are rats found in every country around the world?
What is the main reason why rats are a successful species?
What is the main reason why rats are a successful species?
What is a unique feature of a rat's mouth?
What is a unique feature of a rat's mouth?
What is the main reason why rats do not need to see much?
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?
What sense do rats use to feel new places before entering?
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What do rats spend several hours each day doing?
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?
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?
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.
