Head to head
Bush Rat vs Brown Rat
Bush Rat
VS Brown Rat
The bush rat and brown rat are both members of the genus Rattus, but one is a native Australian forest species and the other a worldwide companion of people.
| Bush Rat | Brown Rat | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Rattus fuscipes | Rattus norvegicus |
| Origin | Native to Australia, separate from the introduced black rat and brown rat | Originally northern China and Mongolia |
| Range | Forest, woodland, and heath along the eastern and southern coasts of Australia and in the southwest | Every continent except Antarctica |
| Habitat | Forest and heath undergrowth, following runways through leaf litter | Cities, farms, ports, sewers, and ships, almost always alongside people |
| Diet | Seeds, fruit, roots, and insects, as well as underground fungi | Grain, fruit, meat, eggs, insects, and refuse |
| Role in nature or science | Spreads fungal spores in its droppings and is eaten by owls, snakes, and quolls | Became the laboratory rat, and learns mazes and rules |
| Activity | Forages at night, sheltering in burrows or beneath logs by day | Not specifically documented |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, though habitat clearing and introduced cats and foxes affect it | Least Concern, with an increasing population |
Bush Rat vs Brown Rat: common questions
Is the bush rat the same as the brown rat?
No, the bush rat is a native Australian rodent, separate from the introduced brown rat and black rat.
How does the bush rat help forests?
It eats underground fungi and spreads their spores in its droppings, which can help forest plants.
Where do the bush rat and brown rat live?
The bush rat lives in forest, woodland, and heath in eastern, southern, and southwestern Australia, while the brown rat lives on every continent except Antarctica, almost always alongside people.