Natal multimammate mouse

The Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis) is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is also known as the Natal multimammate rat, the common African rat, African soft fur rat or the African soft-furred mouse.^[1] The Natal multimammate rat is the natural host of the Lassa fever virus.

Natal multimammate mouse
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Muridae
Genus:	Mastomys
Species:	M. natalensis
Binomial name
Mastomys natalensis Smith, 1834
Synonyms
Mastomys hildebrandtii (Peters, 1878) Myomys fumatus (Peters, 1878)

Range

It is found in Africa south of the Sahara. Six different genetic groups can be distinguished in different regions: one in western Africa, one in central Africa, one in southern Africa and three in eastern Africa.^[2]

Mastomys natalensis is commonly known as the “multimammate rat” due to the female’s multiple and prominent mammary glands

Habitat

Its natural habitats include subtropical or tropical dry forest, subtropical or tropical moist lowland forest, dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, arable land, pastureland, rural gardens, urban areas, irrigated land, and seasonally flooded agricultural land.

These rats are closely associated with humans, and are commonly found in and around African villages.

Interactions with humans

The species has been used as a laboratory animal since 1939. It has great value for researchers studying stomach cancer and spontaneous tumors. It is also the most important reservoir of the Lassa fever virus.^[3] It is also bred domestically as food for various pet snake species such as ball pythons and boa constrictors. ^[4] Additionally, it is occasionally kept as a pet. ^[5]