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Believe it or not, rats could give Michael Phelps a run for his money. Certain types of rats can tread water for up to three days and hold their breath for three minutes. Additionally, some species can swim over a mile. And the stories about rats popping up in toilets is no urban legend. They can easily make their way up your pipes.
2. Rats Are Revered in Some Cultures
A temple dedicated to Hindu goddess Karni Mata in northwest India is home to more than 15,000 rats. These rodents are worshipped and protected, and human devotees of the temple believe that when they die, they will be reincarnated as rats.
Rats don’t sweat like humans, nor do they pant to relieve the heat like a dog. Rather, rats control their body temperature by expanding and contracting the blood vessels in their tails.
4. A Rat’s Teeth Never Stop Growing
Rats are known for gnawing on things, and with good reason. Their teeth can grow up to 5 inches per year. They have to chew on things to wear them down. In addition to wood, rats can also gnaw through lead, cinder blocks and aluminum sheeting.
5. There Are Many Different Types of Rats
Most people have heard of Norway rats (brown rats), pack rats and roof rats (black rats). However, what many people don’t know is that there are 56 known species of rats in the world.
True there are some big rats out there rummaging through garbage cans, but the types of rats most people are used to seeing are small compared to some of their more massive rodent relatives. The Sumatran bamboo rat, for example, can weigh up to 8.8 pounds and measure 20 inches in total length. That’s the size of a small housecat. While not as heavy at 3 pounds, the Gambian pouched rat can measure as long as 3 feet from nose to tail.
7. Rats are Prolific Breeders
One of the facts about rats that most people are familiar with is that they can breed quickly. A female rat can reproduce every three weeks or so. And when she gives birth, the litter typically contains six to 10 pups. These pups become sexually mature when they’re three to four months old, meaning they can begin spawning their own broods.
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