Rattus rattus
- noun
- /ˈrætəs ˈrætəs/
- Specialized
:
rata negra
- The presence of Rattus rattus in urban areas poses significant health risks.
Examples
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Historians believe Rattus rattus contributed to the transmission of the plague in medieval Europe.
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The Rattus rattus is often found in urban areas.
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Researchers studied the spread of Rattus rattus throughout the coastal regions.
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Have you seen a Rattus rattus in your house?
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The presence of Rattus rattus in urban areas poses significant health risks.
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Researchers studied the spread of Rattus rattus throughout the coastal regions.
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Historians believe Rattus rattus contributed to the transmission of the plague in medieval Europe.
Synonyms
1
7.4
A small rat that lives in roofs or attics
1
2.3
A small dark animal like a large mouse that lives near people and often carries disease
Surface Forms
Morphology
Both constituents are the Latin genus name 'Rattus', which signals that the phrase refers to rats, so a learner who knows the constituent gloss could infer it names a rat species. However, binomial scientific naming (and the significance of the repeated/Latin form) is specialized and not part of ordinary English compositional rules, so the precise species identity and connotations (small, black, household pest) are not fully predictable from the parts. This partial predictability makes the expression semi-transparent to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Rattus rattus comes from old Latin where 'rattus' means 'rat', so the name is like saying 'rat rat' and points to a small black rat. These rats rode on ships and spread around the world, which explains why this long-tailed house pest is common and why it was linked to disease.