African Soft Furred Rat
SPECIES: Mastomys natalensis
STATUS: Least Concern
HABITAT: Subtropical forest, shrubland, and lowland forest.
DIET: Seeds, fruit, and insects.
GENERAL: The African Soft Furred Rat is not really a rat or even a mouse. They are in the same family as rats and mice which is Muridae, but in the Genus Mastomys, hence the Latin name Mastomys natalensis.
They are also known as Natal Multimammate Mouse or Rat due to the female’s multiple mammary glands, between 16 and 24. A female House Mouse has only 10.
Females of the colony will nurse other females babies.
