Which rodent has a heart rate range of 250-450 bpm?

Which rodent has a heart rate range of 250-450 bpm?

• A. Mouse
• B. Rat
• C. Gerbil
• D. Hamster

Answer: (B)

Heart rate in rodents is species-specific and reflects body size and physiology. Rats typically have a slower, more variable resting heart rate compared to smaller rodents. The commonly cited resting range for adult rats falls around 250–450 bpm, which lines up directly with the given range. Mice usually sit higher, often in the 400–600+ bpm territory, and hamsters or gerbils can also be broader or higher depending on strain and conditions, so they don’t align as cleanly with 250–450 bpm. Thus, the rat best fits the stated heart-rate window.

Heart rate in rodents is species-specific and reflects body size and physiology. Rats typically have a slower, more variable resting heart rate compared to smaller rodents. The commonly cited resting range for adult rats falls around 250–450 bpm, which lines up directly with the given range. Mice usually sit higher, often in the 400–600+ bpm territory, and hamsters or gerbils can also be broader or higher depending on strain and conditions, so they don’t align as cleanly with 250–450 bpm. Thus, the rat best fits the stated heart-rate window.