Behavior
It is nocturnal and omnivorous, with a preference for grains and fruit. Compared to the brown rat, it is a poor swimmer, but more agile and a better climber, tending even to flee upwards. In a suitable environment it will breed throughout the year, with a female producing three to six litters of up to ten young. Females may regulate their production of offspring during times when food is scarce, producing as few as only one litter a year. R. rattus lives for about 2–3 years. Social groups of up to sixty can be formed.
Read more about this topic: Black Rat
Famous quotes containing the word behavior:
“Temperament is the natural, inborn style of behavior of each individual. Its the how of behavior, not the why.... The question is not, Why does he behave a certain way if he doesnt get a cookie? but rather, When he doesnt get a cookie, how does he express his displeasure...? The environmentand your behavior as a parentcan influence temperament and interplay with it, but it is not the cause of temperamental characteristics.”
—Stanley Turecki (20th century)
“Understanding child development takes the emphasis away from the childs characterlooking at the child as good or bad. The emphasis is put on behavior as communication. Discipline is thus seen as problem-solving. The child is helped to learn a more acceptable manner of communication.”
—Ellen Galinsky (20th century)
“The confusion of emotions with behavior causes no end of unnecessary trouble to both adults and children. Behavior can be commanded; emotions cant. An adult can put controls on a childs behaviorat least part of the timebut how do you put controls on what a child feels? An adult can impose controls on his own behaviorif hes grown upbut how does he order what he feels?”
—Leontine Young (20th century)