This little fellow probably originated in south-east Asia from where it has spread to large areas of the world. It arrived in Europe in the early Middle Ages and became very widespread until it was displaced by the brown rat. It can be identified by it's tail, which is always longer than the combined length of the head and body. It is also slimmer and more agile than the Norwegian or Brown rat. Its size varies according to it's environment and food supply, and comparison of the two pictures on this page show that colour is not a guide to species. The Black rat is also known as the Ships rat and or Roof rat.

In its natural habitat, the black rat is a tree-dweller. It is an excellent climber, and is particularly common among pines, palm trees and mixed scrub along the Mediterranean coast. It builds large, roughly spherical nests out of sticks and dry leaves up among the branches, but it will also nest in a burrow if there are no suitable trees. When living inside a building, it builds a nest in a hole in the wall, or in a cavity above the ceiling or beneath the floorboards.

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