{{Short description|Species of mammal}} {{speciesbox | name = Natal multimammate mouse | image = Mastomys natalensis.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | genus = Mastomys | species = natalensis | authority = Smith, 1834 | synonyms = {{Specieslist |Mastomys hildebrandtii|(Peters, 1878) |Myomys fumatus|(Peters, 1878) }} }}
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'''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jean.wright93/mm/mm.htm |title=Multimammate Mice |access-date=2009-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207142116/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jean.wright93/mm/mm.htm |archive-date=2009-02-07 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Natal multimammate rat is the natural host of the Lassa fever virus.
==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.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Colangelo |first1=Paolo |title=A mitochondrial phylogeographic scenario for the most widespread African rodent, Mastomys natalensis |journal=Biological Journal of the Linnean Society |date=2013 |volume=108 |issue=4 |pages=901–916 |doi=10.1111/bij.12013 |doi-access=free }}</ref> left|thumb|''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.<ref>Clive Roots; ''Domestication'' - page: 115</ref> It is also bred domestically as food for various pet snake species such as ball pythons and boa constrictors. <ref>{{cite web |last1=D'Avignon |first1=Nicole |title=Diversifying Snake Diets |url=https://bewildnc.org/diversifying-snake-diets |website=bewildnc |access-date=12 April 2025 |date=February 17, 2022}}</ref> Additionally, it is occasionally kept as a pet. <ref>{{cite web |last1=Murray |first1=Janet |title=African Soft Fur Rats: Do They Make Good Pets? |url=https://a-z-animals.com/blog/african-soft-fur-rats-do-they-make-good-pets/ |website=AZ Animals |access-date=12 April 2025 |language=English |date=August 31, 2022}}</ref> ==References==<!-- BelgJZool135:11. --> {{Reflist}}
==External links== * Granjon, L., Lavrenchenko, L., Corti, M., Coetzee, N. & Rahman, E.A. 2004. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/12868/all Mastomys natalensis]. [http://www.iucnredlist.org 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. ] Downloaded on 9 July 2007. *{{MSW3 Muroidea | id = 13001472 | page = 1365}} *Tofts, Russell. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090207142116/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/jean.wright93/mm/mm.htm Multimammate Mice]. Retrieved July 14, 2009. {{Murinae (Stenocephalomys–Xeromys)}}
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Category:Mastomys Category:Rodents of Africa Category:Stored-product pests Category:Mammals described in 1834 Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot Category:Rodents as pets