Sprat
The humble sprat, or "Space Rat", is the most common and widespread vermin across the galaxy. It is highly adaptable to nearly any environment, is a mostly palatable source of protein, and can repopulate an area at a rate that make rabbits appear sterile.
Basic Information
Anatomy
At a glace the sprat looks like a large, hairless, beige-skinned rat with overlarge ears and eyes and a fin situated above the hindquarters, just north of where the tail attaches to the body. It's skin appears somewhat rough and scaly and sits in loose wrinkles around the neck, back and haunches.
Genetics and Reproduction
Sprats reproduce nearly identically as the common rat from Old Earth but as if dosed with every aphrodisiac known to sentient species. Sprat litters number two dozen kits on average and their gestation period lasts for 14 days with no refractory period afterwards. Contributing to this prodigious spawning rate is the fact that sprats are hermaphroditic, with the larger, more dominant sprats performing as the "male" and the smaller sprats fulfilling the role of female.
Growth Rate & Stages
A sprat reaches full physical maturity after 3 weeks and is immediately capable of mating and producing litters at that time. Oddly enough, old sprats display a form of dementia that causes them to display traits similar to senescence1 (see footnotes).
Ecology and Habitats
Sprats are capable of adapting to nearly any environment. They have even been noted to have survived in the vacuum of space for short periods of time with no ill effects.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Sprats are able to eat virtually anything and derive nutrition from it. This makes them nearly impossible to poison short of radioactive material.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Sprats live in groups known as colonies that can number between 10-90 individuals that make up an extended family.
Domestication
A domestic form of the sprat called the domestic or house sprat was bred into existence sometime before the Age of Strife as a household companion. They are slightly smaller and more docile than the common sprat, and come in a variety of skin colours and patterns.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Generally sprats are seen and treated as vermin, especially on agricultural worlds. However, sprats are edible (though not particularly flavourful) and their hides can be processed into a passable facsimile of leather.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Sprats are one of the most widespread and invasive species in the galaxy with nearly every ship in human space containing at least one sprat, domesticated or otherwise.
Average Intelligence
Roughly equal but slightly superior to that of the common brown rat of Old Earth.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Sprats have excellent hearing and eyesight and a sense of smell of a similar magnitude to a domestic canine. An interesting quirk of the sprat nervous system makes them completely immune to direct manipulation by psychic powers.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
A variety of parasitic creatures are known to infest sprats.
1 - Senescence is the biological process by which an individual organism "self-destructs", with pieces of their body dying and falling off and the complete loss of self-preservation.
Scientific Name
Rattus rattus cosmos (Common Cosmic Rat)
Origin/Ancestry
Mammalian
Lifespan
Maximum life span is up to 6 years, average life span outside of domestic breeds is less than 1 year.
Conservation Status
The sprat current outnumbers every sentient species combined by a factor of 1000 to 1 not including it's multitude of subspecies. Many agricultural planets have active extermination campaigns to cull the vermin and prevent widespread loss of infrastructure and produce.
Average Height
Between 0.23-0.30m at the shoulder (8 inches - 1 foot)
Average Weight
4.5 - 5.3kg (9.9-11.7lbs)
Average Length
Approximately 0.46-0.66m (18-26 inches)
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Varies between sub-species and individuals, with the most common colouring being a medium beige hue.
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