Rat
Appellation
The rat is a mammal belonging to the order of Rodents.
Looks like the external mouse, but the stand out easily because it is larger. It has a cylindrical body, short snout and thick, small ears, long tail, covered with small and sparse hair. The species of rat is about 400, scattered in Europe, Asia and the northern part of the Americas.
Behavior>
Rodents have largely developed the instinct of residence. Most dig the soil to live and store their food (π.χ. chinchilla). At the beginning of winter, their warehouses overflow with seeds, fruits and roots. They have unlimited appetite and eat incessantly.
The dental system has not canines, but have a pair of incisors in the front of the jaw. Them incisors are growing constantly, but also constantly wear. If the wear stop, the incisors will emerge from the mouth, will perforate the palate and injure the animal. To wear the teeth they should, rodents gnaw then not only food, but also organic and inorganic materials. For this destruction considered for houses as they can cause damage even in foundations.
Reproduction
Rats lay 6-8 times a year by 4-6 babies. Characteristic is the fertility of rodents, which has become proverbial. Propagated with such abundance, that if there were no means to exterminate them could completely destroy agricultural crops. That’s why some species, such as mice, are considered harmful. But others, such as beavers, favorably affect the ecosystem of rivers and lakes with dams that make.
Impact on humans
Rats are capable of carrying diseases in humans such as Salmonella, disease Weil, coliform E.coli and Tuberculosis. They have also been associated with the spread of the plague because of parasites carrying.
Species found in Greece:
- Rural rat: Rural rat lives in Macedonia and Epirus. It feeds mainly on plants and cause heavy damage to crops, so the man fights with various means such as traps, poisoned baits, sprays with toxic substances etc.
- Land rat: The land rat is known as the amphibious rat and that’s why he likes to live near marshes. He lives in Macedonia and Thrace. It feeds on small animals and roots. Other species found in Greece, is the Blonde Rat who lives in Thessaly, Macedonia, Ipiros and Thrace, the Snow Rat living in central and northern Greece, the Mediterranean Rat, which occurs throughout mainland Greece and Underground Rat located in Macedonia, Thrace, Thessaly.
Tags: bite, biting, damage to crops, disease, extermination, extermination, multiplication, pathogens, Rat trap, rodent, rodents