ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Rat king

A rat king is when a group of rats become tangled up and stuck together by their tails, fur, and other debris, forming a large mass. Imagine playing with a bunch of toy cars and getting them all stuck together in a big knot. Sometimes, there can be up to 30 rats in a rat king, and it can be very dangerous for them.

Rats are very social creatures that live in groups called colonies. They love to explore and forage for food together, and sometimes they can get into tight spaces like sewers, underground tunnels, or even garbage heaps. In these places, their tails can become entangled with each other and with materials like hair, dirt, feces, and other items. Once they are stuck together, it can be tough for them to move around, which can make them vulnerable to predators or starvation.

Rat kings are rare and only happen in certain situations, but they have been around for centuries and have caused superstitions and legends in many parts of the world. Some people believed that rat kings were a sign of bad luck or a dark omen, while others saw them as a curiosity or a source of fascination. Scientists have studied rat kings to understand more about rat behavior and their social structures, but they still remain a mystery in many ways.
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