Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Denys, Christiane, Lalis, Aude, Lecompte, Émilie, Cornette, Raphaël, Moulin, Sibyle, Makundi, Rhodes H., Machang, Robert S., Volobouev, Vitaly & Aniskine, Vladimir M., 2011, A faunal survey in Kingu Pira (south Tanzania), with new karyotypes of several small mammals and the description of a new Murid species (Mammalia, Rodentia), Zoosystema 33 (1), pp. 5-47 : 32

Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Mus rattus Linnaeus, 1758: 61 .

The black rat is well known in east Africa were it came from a variety of countries brought by human traffic along the Indian Ocean coast. Three individuals were trapped, all in the village houses. They all correspond to the black rat morphology and their karyotype show some variability. Two of the three animals karyotyped display 2n = 38 and 39, and FNa = 58 and 60 respectively ( Fig. 18 ). The 2n = 39 individual possesses one supernumerary or B chromosome, a phenomenon detected in numerous subspecies and populations of R. rattus ( Yosida 1977) .

Figures

FIG. 18. — Standard karyrotype of KP Rattus rattus Linnaeus, 1758 specimens: A, Š (MNHN-CG2007-1210); B, ş (CG2007-1209). The arrow indicates the supernumerary or B chromosom.