Feeding behavbior and harming mechanism in commensal rodents

Abstract

Idiscussed the relati 〔 mships between harming mechanisms and feed− ing behavior such as commensalism ， food habits， water requirements and responses to starvation in Rattus rαttus， R ， norvegicus ， R ． exutans andlfus musculus ． Because of their commensahsm they seasonally migrate between houses and the outdoors ， and accidentally bring pathogens into houses ． R ． norvegicus is omnivorous and the others are basically herbivorous ． Howevcr ， they show unusua 正food habits and ， for ex − ample ， R rattus eats bark and an excessive amount of insects when starving