What is this animal ?

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Unfortunately squashed this rodent under the teleporter wheels in some long grass whilst repairing a fence. Like a rat but very black with some serious claws and teeth. Anyone got any idea what it is ?

 

[Muddyroads]

Dead?

 

[Bald Rick]

Dead?

Alive

Looks like a black rat .......... run

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

What's the difference between a black and a brown Rat ?
Are they the same species ?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

What's the difference between a black and a brown Rat ?

The colour

 

[Hindsight]

Bubonic Plague!!! Weils Disease.

Think they are quite rare compared to your standard issue brown rat. Even rarer if you keep running over them

 

[Exfarmer]

Very rare indeed, cleared out by the arrival of the brown rat which out competed. It was blamed for carrying the fleas which transmitted the bubonic plague , but modern research now suggest it was innocent and it was gerbils who carried the fleas.
I was entirely unaware that the children in medieval England kept so many pet gerbils