The Norway rat or laboratory rat rattus norvegicus , is a mammal of the order Rodentia. The laboratory rat was the first animal where the primary reason for domestication was for use in scientific endeavors.
Rats have several unique biological characteristics.
The acute hearing of rats makes them sensitive to ultrasounds and high pitched sounds. The tail of the rat is the principal organ for heat exchange. This type of housing is available at the University of Iowa. Rats can also be categorized genetically. Inbred, outbred, hybrid, or mutant rats are available from many commercial sources.