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dumbo rat (naked)

Rattus norvegicus

Photo by Ken Elwood
Published on Project Noah
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42.4204, -83.7616

Field Notes

Description:

Dumbo rats aren't too different from typical rats. The biggest difference is their widened ears, giving them that dumb look, hence the name; dumbo rat.

Habitat:

These particular rats you would mostly find at your local pet store, however rats are survivors so you could find this one in your apartment hallway begging for food.

Notes:

Found this one in my apartment hallway begging for food

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)
Ken Elwood
A lot of people I meet seem have a complete distaste for them, you either love them indiscriminately or you find them disgusting. It's no problem, I live doing these things
Carolina
Well, I don't have PetSmart or Petco here, but if they were here and sell this rat I bet people will freak out, but I actually find it very interesting, not have as pet but to see it haha. Thank you for taking your time to explained it :)
Ken Elwood
They are in fact popular pets, you can probably find at your nearest petsmart or petco. with that being said, yes they come from breeders who make a profit breeding these rats. As for the genetics behind it, the hairless gene was a from recessive trait from Rex rats ,(sometimes you'll hear "double-Rex hairless") okay so maybe that wasn't so complicated...
Carolina
Oh no that's fine, I like to learn. So its all genetic, not someone trying to breed them and sell them as pets, right?
Ken Elwood
To be short and sweet, it's genetics. There's a lot of scientific mumbo jumbo and a bit of breeder lingo behind it and I don't feel like boring you. =p
Photographed
PublishedJune 20, 2011

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