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Habitat and Behaviour Brown and Black Rats thrive in towns,
villages, farmsteads and on agricultural land, and reach their highest
densities around and near coastlines. In some towns in Arabia, they
show little fear and forage freely among rubbish and in gardens.
Both species appear to be dependent on access to drinking water,
which limits their spread into waterless areas. The Black Rat is more
widespread in isolated settlements. Rats are omnivores that take a
wide range of food. They can breed throughout the year, with each
female having several litters and 5–10 pups per litter.
Distribution and Status Both these species are exotic to the region,
but now have a very wide distribution and are commensal with man.