Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

What does it mean that rats are nocturnal?

1. They are only active in the daytime

2. They are awake/active at night

3. They sleep throughout the night

4. They exhibit increased feeding during the day

The correct answer is: They are awake/active at night

Rats being nocturnal signifies that they are primarily active during the night. This behavior is adapted for various reasons, including avoidance of predators and the ability to forage for food when it is cooler and damp, conditions that are more favorable during the nighttime. Nocturnal animals, such as rats, have physiological adaptations, including enhanced night vision and other senses, that support their activity during these hours. Being nocturnal does not imply that they are inactive during the day; rather, it means that their peak activity occurs at night. Therefore, the designation of rats as nocturnal directly correlates with their patterns of wakefulness and behaviors, distinguishing their active hours from those of diurnal creatures, which are active during the day.