CreatureData

Brown rat vs Eastern rat

The brown rat is heavier: 338.3 g against 230 g for the eastern rat, about 47% more.

Brown rat (Rattus norvegicus)
Brown rat LCLeast Concern
Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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Eastern rat LCLeast Concern

What is the difference between a brown rat and a eastern rat?

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

  • The brown rat is heavier: 338.3 g against 230 g for the eastern rat, about 47% more.
  • Both belong to the genus Rattus, so they are close relatives.
  • Both are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
  • They are on record for 1 of the same countries (the brown rat for 1 in total, the eastern 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

Brown ratEastern rat
Scientific nameRattus norvegicusRattus mordax
FamilyMuridaeMuridae
OrderRodentiaRodentia
Weight280 g – 560 g200.9 g – 230 g
LengthNot recordedNot recorded
Lifespan5 yearsNot recorded
Main foodNot recordedNot recorded
HabitatshrublandNot recorded
Conservation statusLeast ConcernLeast Concern
Countries recorded11

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

Full record: Brown ratFull record: Eastern ratCompare other animals