It is possible that mummified black rats - also known as roof rats - found in attics were not placed there for protection, but merely died there and became naturally desiccated.
But Japanese officials think the surge in rat-sightings in their cities is being fueled by the spread of so-called roof rats - known scientifically as rattus rattus.
Definition of roof rat in US English:
roof rat
noun
another term for black rat
Example sentencesExamples
It is possible that mummified black rats - also known as roof rats - found in attics were not placed there for protection, but merely died there and became naturally desiccated.
But Japanese officials think the surge in rat-sightings in their cities is being fueled by the spread of so-called roof rats - known scientifically as rattus rattus.