Difference between Rats and Mice
Common Name
House Mouse
Brown or
Black Rat
Common Rat
Scientific name
Mucus muculus
Rattus
Rattus rattus
norvegicus
Colour
Length
Brown/grey or
Brown to grey on
Black to brown or
grey with a lighter
back with a
grey with a lighter
underside
lighter underside
underside
80-100mm (3-4in) 200-270mm (7-
(head and body )
Length of tail
11in)
170-200mm (78in)
80-100mm
150-200mm
longer than head
slightly less than
slightly shorter
and body
body length
than head and
body
Weight
10-25 g
400-550 g
80-300g
Shape of nose
pointed
blunt
blunt
Colour of feet
pink
grey
grey
Ears
large
small
large, almost
hairless
Eyes
small
small
large and
prominent
Shape of
small spindle
Banana shaped
Banana shaped
6-8 weeks
2-3 months
2-3 months
droppings
Maturity
Litters
Distribution
5-8 litters per
3-6 litters per
4-6 litters per
anum
anum
anum
4-8 per litter
8-10 per litter
4-8 per litter
Common in wide range
Widespread –
Rare in UK. May
of urban and rural
urban and rural,
be found in port
indoors and
areas – generally
buildings across
Britain. It may also
outdoors inc
indoors and often
part of the year.
sewers.
high up
General
Can survive on
require a regular
require a regular
Characteristics
food with
supply of water
supply of water
moisture content
from which to
from which to
over 15%
drink. Have a
drink Particularly
Feed
fear of new
good climbers
frommultiple feed
objects.
live outdoors for
sources