Black Rat

Order Rodentia; Family Muridae; Scientific name: Rattus rattus; Common name: Black Rat; Alternative common names: Fruit Rat, Ship Rat or Roof Rat - Distribution in Australia: widely distributed in all mainland states, Tasmania and many offshore islands especially along the eastern coast; largely absent in the arid and semi-arid habitats except around towns - Note: this is an introduced pest species in Australia; it has been introduced accidentally in the early days of European settlement arriving aboard ships with the First Fleet.