What characteristic of the woodrat coat helps distinguish it from the Norway rat (*Rattus norvegicus*)?
Answer
The woodrat almost universally has a duller, softer, less oily-looking coat
Woodrats possess a distinctive pelage that serves as a reliable differentiator when compared to species like the Norway rat (*Rattus norvegicus*), which are often encountered in similar general ecosystems. The key distinction is the texture and sheen of the coat: the woodrat typically presents a coat that appears duller, softer, and less oily when examined closely. This difference in coat quality, combined with the absence of the strong musky odor typical of the Norway rat, aids field observers in distinguishing between the two rodent types.
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