Denna sida på svenska.
About Praomys natalensis and its many names:
Denna sida på svenska.
About Praomys natalensis and its many names:
A new pet in Sweden is the small Natal Rat (Praomys natalensis). This ratty species has had lots of different names, because it has changed its scientific name several times since it was first discovered in 1834. It has been called Rattus natalensis - and even Mus natalensis a very long time ago - but now it can be found under the name of Praomys natalensis. It was recently called Mastomys natalensis. Praomys natalensis is the most recent (=correct) name.
There are many species known that are closely related to Praomys natalensis, the Natal Rat. Firstly there are several species in the genus Praomys, and then there even more different species in the closely related genus Mastomys. Most of these are closely related to the Natal Rat and might be impossible to distinguish just by looking ever so closely at them. A general difference is that Mastomys often have shorter tails than Praomys. A better way to distinguish between Mastomys and Praomys is to study the cranial bones.
Members of the Praomys genus are also referred to as Soft-furred Rats or African Soft-furred Rats, and the Mastomys are called Multimammate Rats. The Natal Rat was once put in the Mastomys genus, therefore they still are sometimes called Multimammate Rats. A specific name for Mastomys natalensis (the older name) is Natal Multimammate Rat, to distinguish this species from the other species of Multimammate Rats in the genus Mastomys.
A name for Praomys natalensis ought to be Natal Soft-furred Rat to
distinguish it from the other Soft-furred Rats.
There seem to be a lot of confusion about the name of this species. It is still often referred to its older name Mastomys natalensis, especially in older books and on the Internet.
I also notice some references on the Internet to the name Mastomys coucha, which is a completely different species. Since all the photos I've seen on those web pages show the same colour varieties I have myself my conclusion is that they are indeed Praomys natalensis. Also these web pages are maintained by pet owner's.
These rats have been called Multimammate Rat (all the Mastomys are Multimammate Rats), Multimammate Mouse, Soft-furred Rat (all the Praomys are Soft-furred Rats), African Soft Furred Rat (yes they come from Africa), Common African Rat (Praomys natalensis is the most common rat in Africa) and Natal Rats, which is what I commonly call them myself.
Common Swedish names are Mjukpälsråtta,
Natalpälsråtta, Natalråtta and Natalmus. One
pet shop here in Sweden even calls them Nepalmus!
They was first found around the "port
Natal" (Durban) in Africa, but Nepal? Nepal is far away
from Africa...
Natalpälsråtta is considered to be the
"most correct"
Swedish name. Mjukpälsråtta
(=Soft Furred Rat) is really
the name of all the species in the Praomys genus;
like the Praomys erythroleucus (also used in research),
the Praomys taitae, and more.
In the wild the colours of these intriguing little animals vary a lot. Some are brownish, some are reddish, some are greyish and yet some are yellowish. They have white or greyish undersides. The females are often a bit lighter in colour than the males.
Most have long soft fur, compared to the house mouse. Most of the different species that are closely related to the Natal Rat are so much alike that you can't see which is which just by examining them. You might need to check how many chromosomes they have or kill them and study their bonesor something else just as complicated, just to find out which species is which.
The photos shows my pets Aristoteles Biza and Aristoteles Burrina, Champagne Argente Pied females.
Copyright Eva Johansson.
Last update: 13th of April 2007.