anelosimus eximius is a species of social spider in the genus anelosimus , native to the lesser antilles and the area from panama to argentina .

colonies can comprise several thousand individuals .

anelosimus eximius are classified as a social spider species because they engage in shared brood care and cooperate to capture prey within their web , which allows them to capture prey much larger than a single individual would be able to .

their webs do not capture a lot of prey , but the prey that are caught are significantly larger than most prey captured in the webs of other individual social or antisocial spider species .

thus , their techniques provide more nutrients than other social spider colonies may obtain .

these techniques are most efficient in anelosimus eximius colonies of about 1,000 individuals .

the sociality of anelosimus eximius aids in the increased fitness of the species .

one potential cost of sociality in anelosimus eximius is that they produce fewer egg sacs .

however , each egg sac holds more individual offspring than most arachnid egg sacs would normally hold .

thus , the benefits seem to outweigh the costs .

it is difficult to explain how sociality has evolved from a typically solitary animal .

one trait that has facilitated this shift is the lack of discrimination against foreign offspring .

it has also been questioned whether the alloparental behavior of anelosimus eximius was an ancestral trait or if the species had to overcome discrimination in order to gain their trait of sociality .

through studies on social and sub-social species that observed reactions to foreign offspring , scientists discovered that the species did not need to overcome discrimination ; both sub-social and social species of arachnids showed no discrimination towards foreign offspring .

anelosimus eximius

colony size and individual fitness in the social spider anelosimus eximius . - pubmed - ncbi
exploratory recruitment plasticity in a social spider ( anelosimus eximius ) . - pubmed - ncbi
smith , d . 1986 . population genetics of anelosimus eximius ( araneae , theridiidae ) .
view image of anelosimus eximius are social spiders ( credit : aaron pomerantz / perunature . com )
view image of anelosimus eximius live in dense colonies ( credit : aaron pomerantz / perunature . com )
view image of anelosimus eximius colonies can be massive ( credit : bernard dupont , cc by 2 . 0 )
aviles , l . 1986 . sex - ratio bias and possible group selection in the social spider anelosimus eximius .
vollrath , f . 1985 . eusociality and extraordinary sex ratios in the spider anelosimus eximius ( araneae : theridiidae .
nentwig , w . 1985 . social spiders catch larger prey : a study of anelosimus eximius ( araneae : theridiidae .
aviles , l . , p . tufino . 1998 . colony size and individual fitness in the social spider anelosimus eximius .
vollrath , f . 1986 . environment , reproduction and the sex ratio of the social spider anelosimus eximius ( araneae , theridiidae ) .
saffre , f . , a . mailleux , j . deneubourg . 2000 . exploratory recruitment plasticity in a social spider ( anelosimus eximius ) .
ebert , d . 1998 . behavioral asymmetry in relation to body weight and hunger in the tropical social spider anelosimus eximius ( araneae , theridiidae ) .
vakanas , g . , k . bertrand . 2001 . coordination of behavioral sequences between individuals during prey capture in a social spider , anelosimus eximius .
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to cite this page : carrell , s . 2016 .
anelosimus eximius
( on - line ) , animal diversity web . accessed july 09 , 2018 at urltoken
agnarsson i ( 2006 ) a revision of the new world eximius lineage of anelosimus ( araneae , theridiidae ) and a phylogenetic analysis using worldwide exemplars . zool j linnean soc 146 ( 4 ) : 453–593
settepani , v . , l . grinsted , j . granfeldt , j . jensen , t . bilde . 2013 . task specialization in two social spiders , stegodyphus sarasinorum ( eresidae ) and anelosimus eximius ( theridiidae ) .
a . eximius is perhaps the best known of the social spiders , but that is not saying much .
fowler , h . , e . venticinque . 1996 . interference competition and scavenging by crematogaster ants ( hymenoptera : formicidae ) associated with the webs of the social spider anelosimus eximius ( araneae : theridiidae ) in the central amazon .
view image of this bee got stuck in an a . eximius colony ( credit : aaron pomerantz / perunature . com )
in species like a . eximius , spiders are essentially clones . brothers and sisters mate with each other , generation after generation , so that colonies become highly inbred .
these two processes together help to explain why a . eximius colonies tend to be found in clusters , sometimes as many as 40 related colonies within just a few kilometres .
among the thousands of species of spiders ( 40 , 000 arachnids ) , there are only about 23 species that live in social groups . anelosimus eximius is most commonly found in south american countries from panama to argentina . the massive spider webs that are created by these spiders can contain spiders in excess of 50 , 000 with females outnumbering men 10 to 1 .
these spiders , like a . eximius with its massive funnel pits of doom , may superficially seem to behave like social insects . but in truth they could hardly be more different .
aviles , l . , w . maddison . 1991 . when is the sex ratio biased in social spiders ? : chromosome studies of embryos and male meiosis in anelosimus species ( araneae , therididae ) .
majer , m . , i . agnarsson , j . scenning , j . bilde . 2013 . social spiders of the genus anelosimus occur in wetter , more productive environments than non - social species .
anelosimus eximius is a species of spider that is also known as “social spider” because it socializes with its fellow spiders and builds colossal spider webs that have the potential of reaching up to 25 feet ( 7 . 6m ) in height and 5ft ( 1 . 5m ) in width . according to the journal of arachnology , this brazilian spider species is a very cooperative and group - living spider .
viera c , ghione s , costa , fg ( 2007 ) mechanisms underlying egg - sac opening in the subsocial spider anelosimus cf . studiosus ( araneae theridiidae ) . ethol evol ecol 19 ( 1 ) : 61–67
anelosimus eximius , the species i encountered in the rainforest , is not the only kind of social spider in the world , but it does construct the biggest webs . some can reach more than 25ft ( 7 . 6m ) feet long and 5ft ( 1 . 5m ) wide . a web that size could contain as many as 50 , 000 individual spiders . that is a lot of legs , eyes and fangs .
but these cases aside , social spiders just about always build webs . and most of these webs have complex , three - dimensional structures , like the cone - shaped a . eximius webs i encountered in the jungle .
a . eximius was first discovered more than a century ago by a french arachnologist named eugène simon . more social spiders have been discovered since . one was found as recently as 2006 , in ecuador , by entomologist leticia avilés .
for example , an a . eximius colony contains adult males and females as well as youngsters , but the majority of spiders on the web are females . in the early 1980s , researchers found that males comprise only between 5 % and 22 % of any colony ' s populace .
a . eximius was first discovered more than a century ago by a french arachnologist named eugène simon . an interesting advantage that these social spiders acquire by building giant webs is that they can capture prey which can be much larger in size than what a solitary spider would have been able to catch . these communal spiders work together to build , maintain and clean their webs .
exploratory recruitment was investigated in an artificial experimental set - up on location in french guyana . groups of 200 freshly collected spiders of the neotropical social theridiid anelosimus eximius were released on an open circular surface and offered a choice between two accessible shelters . results indicated that a clear - cut collective decision was not always reached , unlike what we found using a different set - up in another set of experiments . simulations were conducted using available information in order to explore the potential causes for this difference . theoretical projections fit experimental data and strongly suggest that variability in the collective response results from a combination between modifications of the environment ' s properties and alteration of the recruitment procedure . multiple variants of the theoretical set - up ( including external bias ) are investigated and emphasize plasticity in the collective response . new experimental studies are suggested and adaptative value of exploratory recruitment in social spiders is briefly discussed .
funding was provided by a natural sciences and engineering research council of canada ( nserc ) discovery grant to l . a ( 261354 - 2008 rgpi ) . k . s . was additionally supported by an nserc canada graduate scholarship ( master’s ) award ( 2009–2010 ) . the staff of simbioe and el ministerio del ambiente de ecuador assisted greatly with logistics and obtaining permits . the associates of reserva ecólogica antisana , estacion biológica jatun sacha , and bellavista cloudforest reserve all provided fantastic general assistance and field support . maurico vega and gabriel iturralde provided valuable field and spider identification assistance . members of the zoology department at ubc provided valuable comments on the manuscript . two anonymous reviewers provided many detailed suggestions that improved the manuscript greatly .
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department of ecology and evolutionary biology , university of arizona , tucson , arizona 85721 , usa .
it is like a scene from a horror film : spider webs several metres wide that are home to thousands of spiders . why did these spiders turn social ?
eight legs , eight eyes and a pair of venomous fangs – the average spider is so well - equipped that it ' s easy to see why arachnophobes are terrified . but there is one saving grace : at least spiders are solitary , so they are usually encountered in small numbers .
but then i found myself trudging along a muddy path in the peruvian amazon jungle , face to face with a spider colony several thousand strong . their funnel - shaped web arched from tree to tree , a structure containing too many of the creepy crawlies to count .
these were spiders but not as i knew them : they appeared to function as a society , just like ants or bees .
most spiders are indeed lone wolves , but a scant handful have evolved a level of sociality to rival ant colonies , bee hives , or even primate societies .
sociality shows up in at least seven spider families . in all we know of around 25 social species among the 45 , 000 described spider species on the planet . sociality evolved at least a dozen separate times among them .
while the details vary from species to species among the social spiders , many of their features are similar .
communal spiders work together to build , maintain , and clean their webs . they cooperate in capturing prey , and dine together when they snare a large feast .
the females feed their offspring by vomiting up food for them , just like mother birds . they even regurgitate food for juveniles other than their own . in other words , they work together to care for the youngest in the colony . it is a sort of spider day - care .
nearby colonies tend to be related to each other , because new colonies form in one of two ways .
sometimes , a large web is broken in half , perhaps by heavy rainfall or falling branches , or even a falling monkey . in its place , two smaller colonies are left behind .
other times , individual females will strike out on their own , setting up a new web . eventually other dispersing females will join the group ; perhaps ones who tried to set up their own webs but failed . survival is more likely in groups , after all .
gregarious arachnids are not much studied – perhaps because so few of them exist in the first place .
my students know more about social spiders than your average arachnologist ,
says linda rayor , an entomologist at cornell university in ithaca , new york , who studies australia ' s social huntsman spiders .
most animals are solitary ,
she tells me ,
whether you ' re looking at mammals , or birds , or whatever . social behaviour in otherwise solitary animals is cool .
as i watched the social spiders go about their day deep in the jungle , a bee found itself stuck in the giant web . suddenly , dozens of the eight - legged predators descended en masse onto the struggling black - and - yellow striped insect . it was impossible to see through the writhing mass of tiny spider legs , but one thing was certain : that bee was done for .
if death by one spider seems bad enough , it must be nothing compared to an attack by a whole swarm of them .
the first spider , the proto - spider , was probably solitary . so the spiders that gave rise to today ' s truly social species must have been too . but then they did something remarkable : they turned sub - social : they learned to tolerate each other , at least for a time – even if they did not exactly enjoy hanging out in groups .
that early tolerance could have come about as a result of parental care . in some spiders alive today , that is just defending an egg sac , but in others – the ones that are poised to evolve sociality – it looks more familiar to our mammal brains .
in those species , females provide food and protection for their developing offspring , and occasionally even to other juveniles . in some species , mothers even make the ultimate sacrifice , allowing themselves in their last moments to become a meal for their brood . sub - social spiders can still be cannibals , after all .
they ' re the spiders that already have cooperation as juveniles ,
says arachnologist jonathan pruitt of the university of california , santa barbara .
but as they mature , they become intolerant of each other .
in other words , juvenile tolerance alone is not enough to turn spiders fully social . the environment in which the spiders live also has to be right . researchers have discovered three ecological elements that often lead to cooperative living among arachnids .
solitary spiders living in places where it is difficult to subdue large or more profitable prey alone may eventually figure out that it is in their interest to work together . it is a smaller step from tolerance to cooperation than from aggression to cooperation .
another common feature is heavy rain . rain does not have to be frequent , but when it is really intense , it has the potential to seriously damage spider webs . when a tempest takes out the web and threatens a spider ' s survival , the ones with just a glimmer of social behaviour might fare just a little better than their isolationist peers .
as a result , some have hypothesised that rough weather favours cooperation , since in those conditions it is the spiders that share the task of maintaining and repairing their webs that fare best .
many hands make light work of web repair ,
says pruitt .
then there is the web itself . there are only a couple of instances in which spiders that do not build webs have evolved to be sub - social . these web - less social spiders , living in places like the australian deserts or in african scrub habitat , have to cope with unusual circumstances – like enormous prey or particularly aggressive raiding ants .
pruitt thinks that could be a simple matter of mechanics . it is easier for two spiders just on the cusp of evolving sociality to join their webs together if they exist in three dimensions than if they weave flatter , two - dimensional ones , like charlotte ' s eponymous web .
some combination of tolerance , prey size , rough weather , and web geometry combine to create the perfect storm for social behaviour to emerge in spiders .
add in the fact that it is easier to defend yourself against predators in a group , and that communal webs offer spiders the relative safety of staying in one place rather than risking travelling away from the web onto which you are born to live somewhere else , and for some species , cooperation is a good deal .
bees and ants sort into separate castes . some are workers , some are soldiers ( or drones ) , and then there is a reproductive class . those not included in the reproductive class are sterile ; they could not reproduce even if they wanted to .
social spiders , meanwhile , are more egalitarian . anyone can do any job , and all are capable of reproduction .
view image of driver ants are divided into strict castes ( credit : redmond o . durrell / alamy stock photo )
it is not that spider societies do not rely on the division of labour . it is just that those roles are not strictly governed as they are for the social insects .
and while some female social spiders do not wind up reproducing , it is not because they are physically or genetically incapable . instead , it is usually just because they have not lived successful enough lives . it takes a lot of nutrition to make a few hundred spider babies , and a spider that does not have a rich enough diet is not really up to the task .
instead , roles in spider colonies are usually sorted on the basis of age and sex . researchers are increasingly coming to realise that social spiders also sort themselves according to their individual personalities .
they ' re incredibly well organised ,
says pruitt .
by paying close attention to individual spiders , he and others have discovered that certain spiders are more likely to spend their days attacking predators , while others are more likely to repair the webs , help keep parasites away , clean the web , rear the young , and so on .
spider vocations are intimately tied to their efficiency at those vocations ,
he says .
though it is not yet clear whether those skills develop through experience or because of innate aptitude , some spiders are clearly in the construction business , some are hunters , others are on janitorial duty , and still others offer childcare services .
since adolescent spiders do not go off in search of new colonies , there is no influx of new genetic material . for that reason , some suspect that spider personalities develop as a result of early life experiences , not genetics .
in spite of a lack of genetic diversity , they exhibit this exquisite diversity in terms of their personalities ,
pruitt says .
view image of stegodyphus sarasinorum spiders have personalities ( credit : dinesh rao , cc by 2 . 0 )
in 2013 , he and his colleagues looked at a social spider called stegodyphus sarasinorum , native to india , sri lanka , and nepal . they found that individual personality traits predict which job each spider performs .
s . sarasinorum is found in dry scrubland . but like the spiders i found in the rainforests of peru , these arachnids work cooperatively to build and maintain their webs and to capture food .
using tiny dabs of paint applied to the spiders , pruitt and his team were able to track 40 from each of two different wild colonies . individuals that were bolder were more likely to be involved in attacking prey – but other characteristics , like body size or a spider ' s level of aggression , did not factor into their vocation .
responding to stimuli from a prey caught in the web elicits different responses according to a set of individual characteristics ,
they concluded .
in other words , social spiders have distinct personalities , which in turn help to define their roles in the community .
in a way , that is not so different from human societies . bold , risk - taking people might be more likely to wind up fighting fires or enrolling in a police academy , while the more calculating , deliberative types wind up as lawyers or architects .
despite lacking a backbone , invertebrates like insects and arachnids lend themselves well to studying complex social behaviour .
when it comes to a behaviour that any sort of animal can do , insects [ and arachnids ] can do it , if not do it better ,
says entomologist phil torres .
after all , they have been evolving on our planet for a lot longer than any bird or mammal has .
sometimes , as many as 40 colonies can be found within a distance of 1 km . to put that into perspective , check out the below image
in the below picture , a colonized spider web was discovered in a north texas park in 2007 . the people in the below picture - mike mccord , left , and freddie gowin - the lake tawokoni state park rangers , monitor a giant communal spider web at the park .
in 2013 in santo antonio da platina , brazil , these spider webs housing large quantities of spiders were eradicated by strong winds that detached the webs from their anchors , thereby , carrying the spiders and their ruined home to new sites . this event led to a “spider rain” in which people in santo antonio da platina observed spiders raining from the sky .
within the built colonies , roles are segregated for all the spiders - males and females alike . some work as “warriors” - those who act as predators and attack the prey - while some work to clean and maintain the webs .
social spiders are likely to have evolved from subsocial ancestors via the subsocial route .
it has been suggested that the transition from subsocial to social living requires a change in three behavioural traits : from premating dispersal ( wherein juveniles are dispersed from the colonies before breeding ) to postmating dispersal ( wherein juveniles are dispersed from the colonies after breeding ) , from outbreeding to inbreeding mating system , and from maternal care to cooperative breeding .
romanian workers accidentally discover 5 . 5 million - year - old sealed cave teeming with freakish , bizarre looking creatures .
information on the south american social spider is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly .
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published online 4 august 2008 | nature | doi : 10 . 1038 / news . 2008 . 1007
for many people it ' s the ultimate nightmare : thousands of spiders collaborating to form a well organized society . a new study published this week in
reveals how colonies of one spider species grow to an enormous size , and the surprising factors that ultimately limit their expansion .
spiders are usually thought of as lone hunters . however , a few dozen species do live cooperatively , building collective webs and sharing food - gathering and child care between them . one example is the neotropical species
researchers based in the university of arizona , tucson , and university of british columbia , vancouver , have now examined colonies of the spiders in the jatun sacha biological reserve and cuyabeno nature reserve in ecuador , measuring the sizes of colonies and recording the prey captured in their communal webs .
the team discovered that as colonies grew larger , they actually caught fewer prey per spider than smaller colonies . to explain this , they turned to allometry , the study of the relationship between size and shape in biology . this is usually applied to single organisms , but the researchers found that it was equally relevant for the whole colony of spiders .
as the number of occupants grows , the volume of the webs they construct increases - but the surface - area - to - volume ratio declines . the area of web is the all - important determinant of numbers of prey caught , so bigger colonies catch proportionally fewer prey items .
at first , researcher leticia avilés was puzzled by the finding : “it begged the question of why the spiders lived in groups in the first place . ”
but she and her colleagues found a factor that compensated for the numbers effect . when they estimated the biomass – the dry weight - of prey caught , they found that larger webs spun by bigger colonies are able to capture larger prey items . larger portion sizes compensated for the falling number of prey - at least , up to a certain point .
combining both of these factors , they found that the amount of food available for each spider peaked in colonies containing around 500 spiders . “previous work had shown that social spiders are able to capture prey several times their body size . no previous work , however , had shown the relationship between colony size and the number and size of insects captured or between colony size and biomass captured per capita , ” notes avilés .
it was previously known that above a certain size the colonies break up , with the occupants dispersing to form new colonies . this research now seems to provide an explanation . although the study found many colonies larger than the optimum size , none was found with more than 9 , 000 spiders . below this size the occupants are better off staying put than starting a new , much smaller colony .
this is an exciting new perspective for thinking about how social web - spinning spiders have evolved ,
says todd blackledge at the university of akron , ohio , who studies web - weaving spiders .
in the past the focus has been on the genetic effects of inbreeding in colonies . this tells us a lot more about the ecological factors governing colony size .
is a social spider found in the neotropical region , specifically in central and south america . in particular , it inhabits as far north as panama and then sthrough eastern ecuador to peru . this spider is found patchily in locations such as suriname as well as eastern and southern brazil . colonies can also be found on islands such as trinidad and the lesser antilles .
is found in the lowland rainforest . in particular , this social spider is found in the interior forest floor and forest edge . therefore this species of spider is rarely ever found in the canopy levels of the rain forest . typically , they are found in cleared areas or around tree falls . the webs can be found as low as a meter off the ground to 20 meters in the canopy .
colonies decrease in web area size altitude decreases . according to volrath ( 1986 ) , this is due to seasons generally being harsher at lower altitudes and damaging the webs .
( majer , et al . , 2013 ; smith , 1986 ; vollrath , 1986 )
size can range from 4 . 4 to 6 millimeters . guevara and aviles ( 2011 ) report the female weight ranges from 2 . 55 to 11 . 82 mg . females are reported to be larger in weight and length than males although no specific measurements have been published for males . the size and weight of juvenile spiders have not yet been recorded in any published studies .
the social spider , like other arachnids , begins as an egg . here in this first stage , the spider goes through its first molt . the incubation period within the egg sac is 20 to 30 days . after the first molt the spiders emerge from the egg sacs . after emerging the social spiders then go through 5 to 6 developmental stages , depending on sex . each time period in between molts is numbered as an instar , or stage . the third instar is when the spiders begin to take part in colony duties . the males reach reproductive maturity in their 5th instar while females reach reproductive maturity in their 6th instar . reaching these maturity stages can take up to 2 to 3 months .
males can attract females through patterned vibrations with the strings that make up their web , as well as visual cues , such as swaying of the legs . in addition males can lay down a scent of pheromones on a line of thread to direct the female towards them . in some cases , the males use both methods of vibration and pheromone communication .
in most cases males seek out the female because the females stay with the nest to invest in the web and eggs . this social spider is considered polygynandrous .
is aseasonal , meaning the spiders do not have a particular season . furthermore , the social spider can breed more than once in its life span . depending on the resource factor , such as food , each egg sac can carry 17 to 53 eggs . the eggs hatch after an incubation period of 20 to 30 days .
females reach maturity in the 6th instar while males mature in the 5th instar . when spiders reach their 3rd instar they become involved in colony tasks , such as hunting , maintenance , and mating .
aviles ( 1986 ) suggests that both parents invest an equal amount in the offspring . however , according to vollrath ( 1985 ) , females invest significantly more into the young . vollrath says the males contribute little to nothing beyond the mating process .
the spiderlings are cared for by the female until the 3rd instar . the female protects , feeds , and hunts for the young . the adult social spiders invest in the spiderlings until they can interact in colony duties .
according to avilés ( 1986 ) , female spiders have an average life span of 76 ± 13 days while males have an average of 71 ± 13 days . the maximum lifespan of sexes are close in range . a single female was reported to have lived 94 - 103 days in the wild , while there are recordings of three males living 103 ± 13 days in the wild . these spiders are not kept in captivity .
these particular social spiders perform tasks that are shared through the colony . the tasks include web maintenance and construction , brood care , defenses , along with attacking prey for when insects hit their trap . furthermore , the spiders cooperate when capturing the trapped insects . according to settepani et al . ( 2013 ) , these tasks are often separated by age and sex . females after the third instar are more likely to perform the colony tasks as well as hunt . researchers believe
performs these tasks to be more efficient in the idea of maintaining a successful colony .
the social spiders are sedentary . emigration is very rare . however , according to smith and hagen ( 1996 ) , when the spiders do relocate it occurs when the nests are by the roadside . this may be due to the nests being more open or vulnerable to trucks driving or having less cover from the weather .
( agnarrson , 2005 ; kim , et al . , 2005 ; powers and aviles , 2007 ; settepani , et al . , 2013 ; smith and hagen , 1996 )
home range and territory size is the size of their web . rarely , does
travel out of its own web . therefore its home range is a 3 - d area with the range of volume from 0 . 0001 to 1 , 000 meters cubed .
nentwig ( 1985 ) records area of the social spiders ' webs being from 20 to 28 meters squared .
according to vakanas and bertrand ( 2001 ) and kraft and cookson ( 2012 ) , there is no observable direct communication between the spiders . however , there does appear to be organization and cooperation , leading to the ability to catch larger prey . the spiders appear to adjust their behavior to match the situation or the prey .
in terms of perception , these social spiders perceive their surroundings through their web . the span of their web acts as a visual perception of depth of their environment .
utilizes the strings by vibration of the legs and abdomen to communicate with another spider . in addition , they can also communicate through attaching pheromones to threads for sexual communication .
creates its web to act as a net trap . above their main net they have a vertical non - stick web . this part acts as a net to trap and cause insects to fall into a bowl shaped nest below to be bombarded by the thousands of spiders ( vollrath , 1986 ) . although they are small organisms this technique allows them to catch much larger prey . reported by nentwig ( 1994 ) , the diet of
was studied in two sites . the first was cerro galera , panama where their prey - capture made up of 19 . 9 % of formicoidea ( ants ) , 17 . 8 % of coleoptera ( beetles ) , 17 . 2 % of heteroptera ( true bugs ) , and 12 . 7 % of blattodea ( roaches ) . the second was el valle , panama where their diet composed of 9 . 1 % of formicoidea , 35 . 0 % of coleoptera , 10 . 6 % of heteroptera , and 10 . 6 % of blattodea . the authors concluded that the spiders are consuming these groups in larger percentages than what is naturally available .
, the spider has kleptoparasites that thrive within their web . these are organisms that are also referred to as food stealers . the social spiders ' main kleptoparaiste is
. according to cangialosi ( 1990 ) due to the parasitic spiders , the social spiders can lose up to 26 % of their food resource . consequently , the social spiders address this problem through avoiding , tolerating , and fighting off the kleptoparasites .
the conservation status of this spider has not yet been reported . this spider is not recognized by the iucn red list , is not protected by cites , and is not federally or state listed . because no scientific publications suggest its populations are in peril , no conservation measures are currently in place .
skyler carrell ( author ) , radford university , karen powers ( editor ) , radford university , april tingle ( editor ) , radford university , emily clark ( editor ) , radford university , cari mcgregor ( editor ) , radford university , jacob vaught ( editor ) , radford university .
living in the southern part of the new world . in other words , central and south america .
having body symmetry such that the animal can be divided in one plane into two mirror - image halves . animals with bilateral symmetry have dorsal and ventral sides , as well as anterior and posterior ends . synapomorphy of the bilateria .
used loosely to describe any group of organisms living together or in close proximity to each other - for example nesting shorebirds that live in large colonies . more specifically refers to a group of organisms in which members act as specialized subunits ( a continuous , modular society ) - as in clonal organisms .
offspring are produced in more than one group ( litters , clutches , etc . ) and across multiple seasons ( or other periods hospitable to reproduction ) . iteroparous animals must , by definition , survive over multiple seasons ( or periodic condition changes ) .
the area in which the animal is naturally found , the region in which it is endemic .
reproduction in which eggs are released by the female ; development of offspring occurs outside the mother ' s body .
the kind of polygamy in which a female pairs with several males , each of which also pairs with several different females .
rainforests , both temperate and tropical , are dominated by trees often forming a closed canopy with little light reaching the ground . epiphytes and climbing plants are also abundant . precipitation is typically not limiting , but may be somewhat seasonal .
a wetland area that may be permanently or intermittently covered in water , often dominated by woody vegetation .
the region of the earth that surrounds the equator , from 23 . 5 degrees north to 23 . 5 degrees south .
2014 .
iucn red list
( on - line ) . accessed march 23 , 2015 at urltoken .
aviles , l . 1997 . causes and consequences of cooperation and permanent - sociality in spiders .
breene , r . 2014 .
arachnid developmental stages : current terminology
( on - line ) . welcome to the american tarantula society headquarters . accessed march 01 , 2015 at urltoken .
guevara , j . , l . aviles . 2011 . influence of body size and level of cooperation on the prey capture efficiency of two sympatric social spiders exhibiting an included niche pattern .
kim , k . , k . bertrand , j . choe . 2005 . cooperative prey capture by young subsocial spiders : ii . behavioral mechanism .
krafft , b . , l . cookson . 2012 . the role of silk in the behaviour and sociality of spiders .
powers , k . , l . aviles . 2007 . the role of prey size and abundance in the geographical distribution of spider sociality .
salomon , m . , d . mayntz , y . lubin . 2008 . colony nutrition skews reproduction in a social spider .
yip , e . , l . rayor . 2013 . the influence of siblings on body condition in a social spider : is prey sharing cooperation or competition ? .
disclaimer : the animal diversity web is an educational resource written largely by and for college students . adw doesn ' t cover all species in the world , nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe . though we edit our accounts for accuracy , we cannot guarantee all information in those accounts . while adw staff and contributors provide references to books and websites that we believe are reputable , we cannot necessarily endorse the contents of references beyond our control .
this material is based upon work supported by the national science foundation grants drl 0089283 , drl 0628151 , due 0633095 , drl 0918590 , and due 1122742 . additional support has come from the marisla foundation , um college of literature , science , and the arts , museum of zoology , and information and technology services .
center for nonlinear phenomena and complex systems , université libre de bruxelles , c . p . 231 , bvd , du triomphe , brussels , b - 1050 , belgium .


the fancy rat is a domesticated rat ( rattus norvegicus ) , which is the most common breed among pet rats .

the name fancy rat derives from the idea of animal fancy ( promotion of domesticated animals ) or the phrase " to fancy " ( to like , or appreciate ) .

fancy rats have their origins as the targets for blood sport in 18th - and 19th-century europe .

specially bred as pets since then , fancy rats now come in a wide variety of colors and coat types and are bred and raised by several rat enthusiast groups around the world .

fancy rats are commonly sold as pets in stores and by breeders .

domesticated rats are physiologically and psychologically different from their wild relatives , and — when acquired from reputable breeders and shops — pose no more of a health risk than other common pets .

for example , domesticated brown rats are not considered a disease threat , while exposure to wild rat populations could introduce pathogens like salmonella into the home .

fancy rats experience different health risks from their wild counterparts , and thus are less likely to succumb to many of the same illnesses as wild rats .

fancy rats care for themselves , and are thus very affordable compared to even other small pets .

this is one of the biggest draws to them .

additionally , fancy rats are quite independent , loyal and easily trained , earning them comparison to both cats and dogs .

this comparison is merited given fancy rats are considered more intelligent than any other domesticated rodent .

wild-caught specimens that become docile and bred in many generations still fall under fancy type .

fancy rat

national fancy rat society . articles and information on the health of fancy rats .
the following is a brief description of the rat markings as recognized by the american fancy rat and mouse association . see fancy rat genes : marked for genetics .
fancy rat faq - 13 . can two males co - exist in one cage ?
oscar the fancy rat ( petsitters club s . ) : tessa krailing : 9780590195256 : urltoken books
the proper usage of fancy is the keeping of pet rats the name fancy rat derives from the idea of animal fancy or the phrase ,
to fancy
( to like , or appreciate )
fancy
, regular , feeder and breeder rats are really all the same . dumbos are just ear placement , and they only grow bigger if they are genetically bigger or if they are fed well .
the fancy rat population today descended from the
brown rat
latin name rattus norvegicus , that colonized europe in the 18th century .
lissenberg , j . ( 2006 ) fancy rats . rebo publishers , the netherlands .
the american fancy rat and mouse association , a california - based non - profit club of rodent enthusiasts that sets breed standards , organizes shows , and helps to promote both the fancy rat and the fancy mouse as appealing pets , was formed in 1983 . the afrma claim their main objective is to “promote and encourage the breeding and exhibition of fancy rats and mice for show and pets . ” being held annually on november 12th of every year , fancy rat & mouse day is sponsored by afrma , with the aim of popularizing raising and breeding fancy mice and rats as pets and companions .
the following is a brief description of the rat varieties ( coat , body , ear types ; rats do not come in breeds ) as recognized by the american fancy rat and mouse association . see fancy rat genes : coats & misc . for genetics .
but what is a fancy rat ? a fancy rat is a rat who has been bred to conform to a written standard . its coat , color , conformation , size , and personality all were taken into account by its breeder in an attempt to create an ideal show animal . in other words , the term “fancy rat” is the equivalent of saying “pure - bred dog . ” today’s fancy rats are as far distanced from wild rats as poodles are from wolves .
interactions within groups of fancy rats : how to introduce new animals to an existing group etc . .
kelly , jasey .
hairless vs . fancy rats for pets
accessed july 09 , 2018 . urltoken
environment : the fancy rat can be found on every continent aside from antarctica . it is the most successful mammal only second to humans .
at london & southern counties mouse & rat club shows the rats are judged to the standards published by the national fancy rat society , apart from the lscmrc unstandardised class .
as the fancy rat’s popularity has grown , so has its availability . most colors and coat types are available anywhere in the u . s .
the rat and mouse club of america identifies four main varieties of rats : standard , rex , hairless and tailless . in addition , the american fancy rat and mouse association recognizes satin and dumbo rats . the national fancy rat society recognizes many varieties , but it has banned tailless and hairless rats from exhibition in the united kingdom .
if the ville rat takes your fancy , why not broaden your reading tastes further , starting with pulpcurry’s article five great crime novels set in asia ? ville rat is out 6 october .
senses fancy rats have limited vision , and rely on their keen senses of smell and hearing to perceive their world .
kelly , jasey .
hairless vs . fancy rats for pets .
animals - urltoken , http : / / animals . urltoken / hairless - vs - fancy - rats - pets - 2436 . html . accessed 09 july 2018 .
kelly , jasey . ( n . d . ) . hairless vs . fancy rats for pets . animals - urltoken . retrieved from http : / / animals . urltoken / hairless - vs - fancy - rats - pets - 2436 . html
any other varieties
of fancy rats include topaz , lilac agouti , cinnamon pearl and silver fawn . these names point to each rat ' s coloration .
lifespan of the fancy rat ; some common medical problems and what to do about them ; things your vet may not know about rats ; safety - precautions if taking on an orphaned wild rat .
hello ! i actually breed fancy rats ( pet rats ) and i ' m here to tell you that , where there are some definitive differences , fancy rats really aren ' t all that biologically different from their wild cousins . both fancy rats and wild rats are descendants of the norway rat , and thus have a lot of similatities , however , due to years of domestication , also have many differences . one of the biggest differences is that fancy rats have a lot fewer adrenal glands than wild rats do . this causes them to be calmer , and less aggressive than their wild relatives . as well , fancy rats are a fair bit smaller than most wild rats and come in a much wider array of colorations . wild rats are generally grey , brow or black as they need too bland in with their surroundings , whereas fancy rats come in all sorts of variations from spotted , striped , siamese , hooded , and so many more . there are a number of mutations of the standard fancy rat including the rex ( similar to a rex rabbit ) hairless , and dumbo ! fancy rats are highly intelligent and very social animals who make amazing companion animals . i own 3 adult rats ( all of which are rescues ) and currently have a litter of 7 babies . now , with all of these differences aside , fancy rats and wild rats are still quite similar . if you raise a wild rat in captivity , then it can turn out to be just as amazing a pet as a fancy rat . and , if you release a fancy rat into the wild , it will learn to survive as a wild rat . two of my adult rats are fancy rats , however my 3rd ( meeko ) is actually a wild rat . meeko was raised in captivity just like a fancy rat would be , and where i can see some differences between her and my other two ( she is larger and more active ) she is still just as much of a treasured family member as the others are . ultimately , the main difference between fancy rats and wild rats is how they are raised .
fancy rats were first bred since the 18th century and have evolved to be very different in disposition , temperament and even coloration than ordinary wild rats . for example , while a wild rat may be either black or brown a fancy rat can sport a multitude of colors , such as white , cinnamon or even having a blue hue .
a rat graps another rat ' s skin in its teeth and attempts to pull the rat in a particular direction .
introduction : the fancy rat is the typical rat that is sold in pet stores and seen in homes . it is the most common species of pet rat . i decided i would study the rat because it was accessible and also carries a rich history . the rat that i studied was located in the glen apartments . the rat is female and is named “rossi” .
the hairless rat is simply a rat with mutated genes resulting in a bald rat with smooth , soft skin . they may have some hair around the genitals in some cases . fancy rats and hairless rats have much of the same care requirements and temperament .
nom - ology a study in rat nutrition . urltoken confessions of a rat breeder urltoken
the tailless rat is sometimes called the manx rat , a nod to the tailless manx cat . in fact , a tailless rat sometimes has a hint of a tail or a short , furry stub where the tail would be . the national fancy rat society has banned exhibition of the tailless rat because a rat ' s tail helps him regulate his body heat and is considered necessary for robust health .
special needs fancy rats have front teeth that never stop growing - - so they need lots of healthy things to chew on like treat sticks .
fancy rat & mouse day gives us the opportunity to celebrate these beautiful creatures . not to be confused with wild ( black ) rats , the fancy rat is the domesticated brown rat ; while the fancy mouse is the domesticated form of the house mouse . both can be very smart and affectionate and make ideal pets , particularly for children ( especially since there is much less looking after than with a dog , cat or rabbit ! ) . but don’t let that make you think the members of the fancy rat and mouse association take their fancy rats and mice less seriously than they would take any other pets ! fancy rat and mouse breeders and enthusiasts head to california several times a year , where professionally bred varieties are judged on a range of categories . it is , in reality , a serious business . karen robbins , afrma’s spokeswoman , makes a convincing argument for the pets , saying , “rats are very intelligent and can be trained like dogs . they are clean like cats—always washing themselves—and are very personable . they know their owners and want to be out with them . ”
a little background about rossi… i have spent the past few weeks observing the behavior and mannerisms of a certain female fancy rat named “rossi” ( short for rossi roo ) . rossi is known as a hooded fancy rat because of the breed’s coat . the rat as white except for its “hood” which is dark brown and covers all of her head and some of her back . her tail and her paws are light pink .
over the next 45 years interest in fancy rats was very sporadic . several times there were people interested in starting rat clubs ; however , there was never enough support to really have a go at it . 1976 was the turning point . in january of that year the national fancy rat society was founded . this was the first ever “rats only” organization . it set standards , published a newsletter , and held shows . since 1976 interest in fancy rats has grown enormously , and many new varieties have been found and standardized .
fancy rats enjoy living together in pairs . it is best to house two females together , as two males may become territorial . they are the smartest of all small pets , and can learn their names and simple tricks . they have tons of energy and are really fun to watch . fancy rats enjoy running on wheels and in exercise balls . calm , curious and fun - loving , fancy rats love to play and interact with their pet parents .
one rat runs away from the other , the second rat may or may not pursue .
more photos of each rat shown can be seen by clicking the rat ' s name .
domestication : domestic mice originated from stocks captured in china , japan and europe and developed into fancy mice . these fancy mice were found in pet shops in the 20th century , and were developed into laboratory mouse strains . fancy mice are primarily descended from m . musculus domesticus , with a little admixture of the other three subspecies . as such , domestic mice do not represent one of the single subspecies , but are a mixture of all four . ( silver , 1995 ) .
the domestic or fancy rat is descended from the brown rat ( also known as the norwegian rat ) and is thought to have originated from asia moving into europe in 1553 and then onto the us in 1775 . it lives in burrows and is a good swimmer and can often be found inhabiting sewers .
in 1901 miss mary douglas , the “mother of the rat fancy , ” wrote to the n . m . c . and asked whether they would consider opening their doors to rats . the n . m . c . agreed , and the first classes for fancy rats were staged in the fall of 1901 . by 1912 there was enough interest in rats that the club’s name was officially changed to the national mouse and rat club .
fancy rats are social . a pet rat left in the wild for an extended period of time may learn fear and appear nervous , but if they were handled by their previous owners , they are quite likely to come
kuramoto t , yokoe m , yagasaki k , kawaguchi t , kumafuji k , serikawa t . genetic analyses of fancy rat - derived mutations . exp anim . 2010 ; 59 ( 2 ) : 147 - 55 .
meet mouse , the agouti hooded rat ! photo courtesy of laurel l . of pet rat lovers !
hairless rat babies ; males help raise babies ; pedigreed rat ; babies savagely killed / tailless mice .
a rat will rarely bother the incision of another rat unless she is an obsessive groomer or barber .
ou breed what ? i’m used to that response now , and i can’t really blame people . most have never even heard of fancy rats . when you say rat most people picture either wild rats or the pink - eyed domestic rats sold for years as snake food in pet shops . i’ll admit this vision of rats is not particularly appealing and i can almost understand their dislike of such creatures . they have never met a fancy rat .
dumbo rats are rumored to be the sweetest & most gentle of the fancy varieties . can this be true ? amazingly , the answer is a resounding
yes !
if you find that your rat has a unique or odd marking , see if you can match it up with other known markings ! every year , new mutations occur within the pet fancy rat trade . whether or not the breeder or owner has knowledge of it , it could start a new trend in rat markings ; much in the way that the popular down under rat has !
go to afrma official rat standard go to rat type issues - judging 101 for examples of type problems .
to read more about bruxing and to hear rat sound samples , go to the norway rat vocalizations page .
to read more about chattering and to hear rat sound samples , go to the norway rat vocalizations page .
meet sativa , the fawn hooded red rat ! photo courtesy of laurel l . of pet rat lovers !
occasionally , the furry rat will scratch the hairless rat when in close proximity—though not necessarily due to fighting .
dry the rat with a towel , and move the rat to a clean cage to let him dry .
the hairless rat is bald with pink , thin skin that is nearly translucent . if he has whiskers , they are short and curly . his hairlessness is caused by a genetic mutation , and people with fur allergies might appreciate his baldness . the national fancy rat society says the lack of fur makes this rat susceptible to cold and injury .
copyright © 1995–2018 american fancy rat and mouse association all text , artwork , and photos are copyright to afrma , and / or the author , artist , or photographer . unauthorized copying of any part constitutes a breach of copyright law .
in addition to the more well known varieties , the national fancy rat society recognizes at least 21 new varieties . these have poetic or exotic names such as powder blue , quick silver , cinnamon chinchilla , russian pearl and sable burmese .
the term
fancy
refers to the fact that they are completely domesticated , and come in a wide variety of colours , patterns and coat types not found in wild rats .
some people may fancy rats as pets , but for the most part , a rat in the house is not considered a good thing . rats have been plaguing humans - - and giving them the plague - - for thousands of years .
this article is from the rat health care booklet . order one today ! check out the info at rat books
today , both phil and perry abramenko are the government of alberta’s rat and pest specialists overseeing the rat control program .
the rex fancy rat has a curly coat and whiskers . his dense , soft coat comes in many colors , and it lacks the guard hairs that make rat fur coarse . this unusual coat makes him a good pet for people who are allergic to other rats , according to the book
pet rats .
the rat fancy is relatively young in the united states . the first u . s . club , the mouse and rat breeders association , appeared in 1978 . in 1983 the american fancy rat and mouse association originated . since that time rats have been imported from england so that the u . s . now has all the varieties available overseas . fanciers in the u . s . have also been responsible for originating a number of their own varieties . there are now several clubs in the united states , and many more worldwide catering to rats ( and mice ) .
may occur when a sidling rat makes physical contact with another rat . using the broadside of its body , the sidling rat presses against the second rat . the sidling rat may tuck his head town , sometimes as far down as between his front paws ( possibly to protect it ) , or under the second rat ( possibly to gain leverage ) . the second rat may reciprocate , such that both rats push against each other . alternatively , the second rat may be pushed back . if the encounter happens on a ledge , the pushing rat may maneuver the second rat off the ledge .
wild rats can be found all over europe , although they originated in asia . the population spread across the world when the rats were sneaky stowaways on merchant ships . the domestic or fancy rat is descended from the brown rat ( also known as the norwegian rat ) and is thought to have originated from asia moving into europe in 1553 and then onto the us in 1775 .
over the last 100 years interest in the fancy rat has waxed and waned ; however , in the last 15 years the popularity of fancy rats has skyrocketed . people have discovered that they are bright , intelligent , affectionate , gentle , and make wonderful pets . they don’t bite , don’t bark , never leave fur all over the house , and are easy and inexpensive to care for . many people today don’t have the time , energy , or money to own a dog . a rat is the next best thing .
belly up roll by henry ( black and white rat ) under harvey ( black rat ) . photo courtesy of jon lyman
rat forum > rat related forums > caring for accidental litters > ethical breeding . . . what you should know before breeding
staples and clips resist casual exploration by the rat , but can be removed with minimal skin damage by a persistent rat .
bucsis and somerville : training your pet rat , barron ' s books , 2000 . basic rat care and training information .
there are many
types
of fancy rats - different colours , different coat types , even rats with different ears , no hair , or tailless rats . because our laws do not allow rats to be brought into australia , some of these types are found only overseas . australia has developed a unique type of fancy rat , known as the
downunder
rat . although we cannot import rats , we can export them , so downunder rats are now found throughout the world , including the usa , uk and parts of europe .
rat molars are similar to the molar depicted in figure 2 . rat incisors , however , have a single , open , root that continues to grow throughout the rat ' s life .
henry ( black and white rat in foreground ) bounds after willy ( brown rat in background ) . photo courtesy of jon lyman
rat babies - 1 day old - picture guide of a litter of 1 - day - old rat babies by karen robbins .
you can submit your rat for rat of the week by sending a photo and a little story about your rat by email or snail mail to the addresses at the bottom of the page .
i think
fancy
rats is a term gave mainly by pet shops . in their thoughts it means a different color other than agouti , blacks , albino , and hooded rats . . most of the time their fancy are also dumbo - eared . , but not always . around here fancy rats can be american blue ( any markings ) , dumbo or top eared . the feeder rats around here ( in the past ) were blacks and albino . . . now there is a feeder breeder , breeding dumbos for food purpose though . i don ' t believe breeders use the words fancy . . . because most view rats as equals . i also have heard from pet owners that they think the dumbo rats get bigger . both dumbo and top ears can get the same size . i hope i understood the question . . . . - hilary
coat : fancy rats can be found in a wide and varying array of colors ; m ost commonly seen in solid colors or with hooded markings . some fancy rats will retain the wild brown agouti color , 3 tones on a single hair ; others have black based hair , one color on one hair . some common agouti shades include agouti , cinnamon , and fawn . black based shades include black , beige , and chocolate .
one male rat
srr - do your best
was introduced from american fancy rat colony ( spoiled ratten rattery : srr , in kansas city , missouri ) to kyoto university on july 13 , 2005 . inbreeding started from f1 progeny of male
srr - do your best
and a female pvg / seac . ( sep 25 , 2009 )
when introducing a new rat to a group of rats , usually only the dominant resident rat will be aggressive toward the newcomer at first . this is the dominant rat’s “job . ” once the new rat is accepted by the dominant rat , the others may show some aggression in turn , but it usually won’t be as severe .
while we will never be able to have a model that fully replicates the extent of the our own complex physical and behavioural state , the fancy rat has greatly progressed our understanding of many different diseases and disorders , and they will likely continue to provide a very valuable contribution to research .
try to prevent your rat from eating anything in excess and he should be fine . some foods to avoid giving your rat include :
habitat your fancy rat needs a well - ventilated wire home with a solid floor . it should be large enough for a food dish and water bottle , a hiding house and climbing toys . there should be plenty of room for all cage accessories , and for her to move around freely .
a very striking blazed husky rat . this husky rat is young so it has not yet lost its blaze , but the next picture in this hubt is probably the same rat at a later age !
juvenile - type defense tactic in which one rat rolls onto his back before another , sometimes after receiving a nip or bite on the rump . the top rat may then step on the supine rat , sometimes orienting himself perpendicular to the long axis of the supine rat ( thus avoiding the whiskers ) , and pinning him down . the top rat may groom the supine rat ' s belly ( see also
may occur when a sidling rat approaches another very closely . the hind foot closest to the second rat kicks out , and may contact the second rat on the flank or higher on the the back .
each of the foods on this list are great for supplementing a healthy rat diet based off of one of the best rat foods available .
unfortunately , the popularity of fancy rats began to decline after the death of miss douglas in 1921 . less and less interest in rats was shown over the next few years and in 1929 the club was reorganized dropping the word rat from its name . the national mouse club is still in existence today .
rats and mice have a bad rap with large parts of society , as they are often associated with dangerous germs and dirt . what’s more , rats and mice are often feared by people , especially children . most of all , if you are not already a fancy rat or mouse enthusiast , it is important to remember that these animals are not the same ones that you’re probably thinking of , the ones associated with the spread of various diseases such as the bubonic plague or other such widespread disasters to humanity . fancy rats and mice have been kept as pets for years and are both clean and gentle , and definitely nothing to be afraid of . the fancy rat and mouse show out on every year on fancy rat and mouse day by the afrma is not only open to rats and mice and their owners , but also to people who have no experience with these animals and are just curious , to the point that there is no entrance fee . this could be a great opportunity to become acquainted with the creatures and get more comfortable around them . you might also want to watch some of the competitions organized that rats and mice take part in , and watch them win medals and trophies . it’s truly an unforgettable experience ! and if you find yourself becoming particularly interested in fancy rats and mice and all of the things they are capable of , why not attend the display event that exhibits the rats and mice that afrma members have been breeding specificaly for the purpose of showing people just how adorable a purebred fancy rat or mouse can be . this event can also be a great opportunity for all sorts of pet lovers to meet and bond over their experiences , exchange advice , etc .
like it was previously stated , rat species differ in their life expectancies . and there is a difference between wild rats encountered in the wild than those typically sold in your local pet store . wild rats are usually of the two following species : the norway rat ( rattus norvegicus ) and the roof rat ( rattus rattus ) . pet store sold rats are called “laboratory rats” or , alternatively , fancy rats . they are usually domesticated norway rats .
. boxing is a defensive strategy : as long as the subordinate rat maintains whisker - to - whisker contact , the dominant rat cannot bite his rump . the dominant rat may respond to the boxing tactic with a
from the subordinate rat . nose - offs are a defensive strategy : as long as the subordinate rat maintains whisker - to - whisker contact , the dominant rat cannot bite him . nose - offs may escalate into
rat , which is the standard lab rat , has an abnormally high incidence of mammary tumors . however , the incidence of mammary tumors in my
deep intake of breath through wide open mouth . frequently associated with stretching . for some wonderful photos of rat yawns , check out the dapper rat
in the early 1800s colored mice began to find their way into europe and became popular , particularly in the u . k . in 1895 the national mouse club was founded in england . they set standards for the different varieties and held shows . it was because of this organization that the rat fancy was born .
one male rat
srr - rocket science
was introduced from american fancy rat colony ( spoiled ratten rattery : srr , in kansas city , missouri ) to kyoto university on july 13 , 2005 . inbreeding started from f1 progeny of male
srr - rocket science
and a female pvg / seac . homozygous rats for mink were selected for inbreeding . ( sep 25 , 2009 )
the rat actually has a rather long history as a domestic animal . the first documented domesticated rats were bred in england in 1800 , but it is most likely that they had been around for hundreds of years before that . whatever the date , by 1901 enough unusual colors and patterns had turned up that there was interest in them as desirable exhibition animals , and thus the rat fancy was born .
fancy rats come in a variety of common , uncommon , and straight up rare markings . there are so many beautiful ratties out there that it is mind boggling ! unfortunately , none of us can have them all . however , we can dream right ?
as the sport of rat - baiting began to die down because of the inaction of animal cruelty laws , rats became regarded in high society as a pet of status . jack black , the rat catcher to her majesty queen victoria , was the man to talk to if someone wanted a pet rat . ( he is responsible for most of the breeds we see today . ) the fancy rat became a popular pet for high society women to carry around in squirrel cages or to keep on small leashes . queen victoria and beatrix potter were two of his customers .
the brown or norway rat , rattus norvegicus , is the species which was domesticated into what we recognize as fancy or pet rats . this animal began steadily colonizing europe , and particularly england , in the early 18th century . upon its arrival the brown rat was quick to drive out the indigenous black rats . because it was larger and more adaptable , the brown rat was able to thrive in environments that were not suitable for the black rats . thus england was somewhat overrun with rats .
can you just treat the rat for the bacteria rather than having the rat tested ? this seems that it would be far cheaper than doing the test .
we have all seen hooded rats , especially in dreadful stores such as petsmart . the hooded rat is super common , and can be found in many rat households . nearly every rat owner has owned a hooded rat at some point . hooded rats can come in a variety of colors , with many different patterns .
, ten speed press , 1997 . the editor capitalizes on the mystery surrounding the rat to present a sensationalized history of the rat : packed with rat facts , fiction , lore , maps , and even a glossary . she also examines the rat ' s role in science , literature , and of course film .
adult mice are much smaller than adult rats ( fig . 1 ) . adult mice weigh about 30 grams , and fancy mice tip the scales at about 50 grams . adult mice have bodies that are 3 - 4 inches long with 3 - 4 inch tails .
as you can see , the rat has significant hair loss and even sores .
a rat of either breed that grows up in the wild will be wild , and a rat of either breed that grows up with people will be tame .
dominant trait — a standard eared rat has just the normal , wild - type rat ears . they are normal sized and set on top of the head .
one rat grooms a recumbent rat ' s belly . may be an attempt to reach the nape , which is the goal of play fighting . see also
here is a brief list of rat behaviors that are relevant to health issues .
standard or normal ( my pet rat sickle r . i . p . )
mismarked : refers to a rat with imperfect markings compared to a show standard .
chinchilla blaze berkshire rat , owned by julie klaz . photo ©1999 craig robbins .
black variegated rat owned and bred by karen robbins . photo ©1996 craig robbins .
thank you ! we will notify you when this item is in stock . rat
history of the siamese rat in the u . k . - by geoff izzard
i need a rat for pet . kindly help me with that . thank you
q : i think my rat is in pain . how can i tell ?
so what is the risk of this disease if you or your children have a pet rat ? fancy rats are very popular as easy to maintain , social and gentle pets . they are common children’s pets but also have an avid following among adults who can’t afford or don’t have the lifestyle suitable for a dog or cat . fancy rats are widely available from both pet stores and private breeders in different colors , sizes and conformations . however , few , if any of the pet rats sold are tested for the bacteria that cause rat - bite fever . the prevalence of the bacteria in rats can vary , from as few as 10 % to as many as 100 % of rats in a breeding colony or laboratory that are infected . any pet rat can carry these organisms , but the risk of actually contracting the disease from the rat is very low .
the nfrs was formed in 1976 by a group of enthusiasts intent on promoting the rat both as a pet and an exhibition animal . over the years this philosophy has been upheld so that now , as then , we are equally open to breeders , pet owners or people who are a mixture of the two . the nfrs is the club for everyone who appreciates the rat for what it is - a superior pet and fancy animal .
there can be much prejudice against the rat due to the spread of plague , but it was the black rat that played a part in this epidemic and it was not the rat itself that carried the plague but the fleas that it carried .
though your first choice of rat should be based on health and temperament , maybe you would like to get a certain type or color of rat , or maybe you already chose your rat and are interested to know what his unique coloring is .
. cinderella ' s fairy godmother turns the rat into a coachman .
i was born a rat . i expected to be a rat all my days . but life is full of surprises .
reading level : ages 4 - 8 .
as part of a health monitoring program , rat owners and breeders may wish to test to know a rat’s infection status prior to admitting new animals into existing colonies .
use your other hand and a toothbrush to lather a tiny bit of standard human shampoo on the rat’s skin . avoid getting soap in the rat’s eyes or mouth .
both hairless rats and fancy rats make ideal companion pets and entertain their owners with their inquisitive nature , playful attitudes and willingness to hitch a ride on a shoulder . even though they are more susceptible to illness and other problems , a hairless rat can make an ideal , friendly pet for someone willing to take the time to keep their environment clean and healthy .
threatening posture in which one rat ( usually but not always the dominant one ) approaches another rat sideways or broadside (
crab walks
) , with his back strongly arched , and crowds the second rat . sidling may a successful strategy to counter
size . your rat will need to have room to run around and play in his cage . make sure that you get a cage that is large enough for your rat to run around in . the general rule is 2 square feet per rat .
this article is from the winter 1998 afrma rat & mouse tales news - magazine .
see separate articles , are rat - mouse hybrids possible ? and the hybridization page .
this rat looks to be cinnamon - - an agouti rat with the recessive mink gene . the eyes appear to be black , so it cannot be fawn or amber .
agouti aoc rex rat owned and bred by geri hauser . photo ©1992 larry ferris .
black self tailless rat owned and bred by jazmyn concolor . photo ©1996 craig robbins .
12 - day - old dumbo kitten rat showing how the ears are set away from the head . rat owned and bred by jozzette hagemann . photo ©2016 karen robbins .
self - the solid colored rat , no markings . the color goes to the toes
show rat is larger and has a smoother coat . both owned by nichole royer .
this patchwork hairless rat will continue to molt and regrow its hair during its lifetime .
take extra care in helping your hairless rat avoid extreme temperatures , sharp objects , and rough handling as the lack of fur makes the rat more susceptible to skin injuries .
sugarbaby . . . my heart rat the sweetest love i ' ve ever known .
i need a rat for pet . kindly help me with that . thank you ramprasad
neutering a male rat is a little more complicated than neutering a dog or cat .
a body wrap works by preventing the rat from bending over to reach the incision .
the following is a brief description of the rat varieties as recognized by the american fancy rat and mouse association . this information is taken from the afrma brochure . for complete details of the standards including points , faults , eliminations , and disqualifications , please refer to the afrma show regulations & standards book . rats do not come in breeds ( different shapes and sizes ) like in other species but in varieties ( different coat types , ear type , no tail )
the success of the rat in research today has been linked to the wistar institute in america and their development of the wistar albino strain . there are currently 117 albino strains of the laboratory rat , all of which can be traced genetically back to the one rat , likely to have arisen as a mutation from a hooded ( piebald ) rat strain .
this is a guinea pig , but it is exactly the same as rat bumble foot . very gross , very painful , and very difficult for a rat to go through .
kuramoto t , yokoe m , yagasaki k , kawaguchi t , kumafuji k , serikawa t . genetic analyses of fancy rat - derived mutations . exp anim . 2010 ; 59 ( 2 ) : 147 - 55 . takashi kuramoto , satoshi nakanishi , ken - ichi yamasaki , kenta kumafuji , yuichi sakakibara , yuki neoda , akiko takizawa , takehito kaneko , mito otsuki , ryoko hashimoto , birger voigt , tomoji mashimo and tadao serikawa genetic quality control of the rat strains at the national bio resource project - rat . ibc . 2010 volume 2 article no . 0012
a few white rats have been brought in by pet stores , biology teachers and well meaning individuals who did not know it was unlawful to have rats in alberta . the white rat or laboratory rat is a domesticated norway rat . if white rats escaped captivity or were turned loose , they could multiply and spread throughout alberta just like the wild norway rat .
this woodrat has the closest resemblance to the house rat and is often confused with it .
 sign differences : due to their larger body size , rat feces are larger than mouse feces ( also see differences in rat and mouse sign from a pest management perspective ) .
i have a new dog and he is a rat killer . i am soooooo happy !
, in which the hindquarters follow the forequarters and the rat ends up on its back .
one rat retreats to a safe area , preferably far away from the aggressive rat . he may stay there , sitting quietly for a long time , sometimes up to an hour .
bristle coat rat owned and bred by jozzette & mike hagemann . photo ©2013 karen robbins .
a berkshire rat has a perfectly solid colored body , with some white on the belly . unlike the veriberk , the white does not extend up the sides of the rat’s belly . any white will be solely on the underside of the rat . berkshires are extremely common .
. rosie ' s rat - phobic mom surprises her on her birthday with a black and white baby rat , who she names midnight . reading level : ages 4 - 8 .
marked varieties of rats generally sport two colors of fur that form patterns . for example , the capped variety has a body that ' s solid white and a head with a cap of color that stops at the ears . the irish variety sports a white triangle on the chest , plus white feet and a body fur of a different shade . the national fancy rat society lists 11 marked varieties .
the hooded rat is a descendant of the brown rat . after years of domestication , different colors and patterns were bred from uniquely marked rats , making the available colors , patterns , and coat types appear more within the pet rat population . almost every pet rat can trace its origination to rattus norvegicus , a species common in europe where they were first heavily domesticated .
jack black also supplied the live rats for rat - baiting alongside his partner jimmy shaw ( also known as jemmy ) . jemmy shaw’s dog “jacko” held the world record for rat killing .
a submissive rat will often roll over onto it’s back displaying it’s belly to the air ( or the dominant rat ) in response to even very minor dominance behaviour . the more submissive the rat generally the faster they will be to roll over . this behaviour generally placates the dominant rat before any more serious dominating behaviour can occur . it is also more common in kittens and young rats who roll over to more senior rats as a matter of course . problems can occur when a rat rolls over submissively when the dominating rat really wants grooming . this can lead to some confusion as the dominating rat attempts to communicate it’s wants to the submissive rat and it’s only response is to become more pliant and submissive , letting out ‘peeps’ in protest and confusion .
the domestic brown rat is most often called a
fancy rat
. the rats raised for pets today descend from the
brown rat
, rattus norvegicus , that only colonized europe in the 16th century . being that the brown rats are larger and bolder they have pretty much taken over the position held for centuries by their cousins the black rats . the latter are the
black rat
of legend that carried the fleas that in turn carried the black plague all over europe , these were not the brown rats kept as pets today . there are a very few fanciers now trying to domesticate the more timid black rat , rattus rattus but they are not readily available to adopt any where in any number . the brown rat was used first for blood sport and latter in laboratories for experiments so they have been bred down thousands of generations to be docile and friendly towards humans .
all other written and visual materials used by permission of specific authors for the sole use of the rat guide . brought to you by kuddlykorner4u see logos page for linking to the rat guide .
sara b . conrow , “further observations on taillessness in the rat , ” 1917 p . 155
wow this link will really help me when i ' m getting a pet rat for christmas .
video of niles eye boggling ( 3 second video , 850 mb , quicktime ) . video courtesy of r . arthur of the dapper rat , niles the rat belongs to l . dux .
i want a female hairless rat can someone get me one please . 909 - 917 - 2480
i love my hairless rat kojack . he is such a stud . and my best friend .
a rat learns to press a lever for water , but only when the light comes on .
gould’s goanna is commonly eaten in indigenous communities , but can contain high levels of rat poison .
hello i am looking to buy a rat . how much would the shipping and everything be ?
q : my rat sways back and forth while standing still . i something wrong with him ?
in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in europe , norway rats were captured and used for food during times of famine . rat - catchers were hired to exterminate rats and capture live ones for rat fights , rat coursing , and rat pits . rat - catchers captured and housed wild rats in cages as well ( matthews 1898 ) . during this time , naturally occurring albino , black , and hooded norway rats may have preferentially captured or chosen from litters of captive rats for their distinctive appearance
rat odor is stressful to mice and has an effect on their behavior and reproduction . in fact , rat odor is sometimes used as a predator odor to study anxiety and antipredator behavior in mice .
rust colored rat with white on belly found outside trying to figure out if it was someones pet and got away or a bad outdoors rat how can i tell . gave him some water and millet
one rat grooms the other , frequently around the neck or head ( especially the eyes , mouth , chin and ears ) . somewhat less frequently , one rat may groom the flanks of another .
(
poofing
) : the rat ' s body hair stands on end . may occur when the rat is cold , or when stressed , such as during or after an intense altercation .
people who could call any rat ugly . . . no matter what it looks like . . . and say that a pet rat ' s only value is the cuteness factor - - - -
when taking your rat to the hospital for surgery , make sure your rat has eaten something that morning , and the cage has food and water ; it may be a while before the surgery .
when introducing rats , you should have two cages so the new rat can have his own cage at first . ( the second cage can be the resident rat ' s travel cage . ) never just plop a new rat in the resident rats’ cage because the residents will always defend their territory .
most rats do a good job of grooming themselves , so it is not necessary to bathe your rat often . however , you may decide to give your rat a bath if he develops a bad smell . at most , you should only need to bathe your rat once or twice per year .
in an article on tailless rats in the “national fancy rat society handbook” ( pp . 51 - 53 ) nick mays reports that in september of 1985 a tailless rat appeared in one of his litters . at about the same time another english fancier , jean judd , discovered a tailless in one of her litters . since that time a number of tailless have been produced all over the world . interestingly , many ( possibly all ? ) of these tailless trace their ancestry back to a strain of siamese bred by another english fancier .