CreatureData

Black rat vs Maclear's rat

The black rat is heavier: 229.1 g against 150 g for the maclear's rat, about 53% more.

Black rat (Rattus rattus)
Black rat LCLeast Concern
Photo: Jakub Hałun · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Maclear's rat (Rattus macleari)
Maclear's rat EXExtinct
Photo: Joseph Smit · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

What is the difference between a black rat and a maclear's rat?

Each point below is worked out from a pair of recorded values.

  • The black rat is heavier: 229.1 g against 150 g for the maclear's rat, about 53% more.
  • Both belong to the genus Rattus, so they are close relatives.
  • The black rat is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List; the maclear's rat is Extinct.
  • They are on record for 1 of the same countries (the black rat for 1 in total, the maclear's rat for 1). Country data is incomplete and can include zoos, so this does not show whether they meet in the wild.

Side by side

Black ratMaclear's rat
Scientific nameRattus rattusRattus macleari
FamilyMuridaeMuridae
OrderRodentiaRodentia
Weight200 g – 229.1 g150 g
LengthNot recordedNot recorded
Lifespan4.2 yearsNot recorded
Main foodNot recordedNot recorded
HabitatNot recordedNot recorded
Conservation statusLeast ConcernExtinct
Countries recorded11

A scale drawing needs a recorded length for both animals; only weights are on record for this pair.

Full record: Black ratFull record: Maclear's ratCompare other animals