Best paper on this topic I know of is:
Wolff,P; Herzig-Straschil,B; Bauer,K (1980): Rattus rattus (Linné 1758) und
Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout 1769) in Österreich und deren Unterscheidung
am Schädel und postcranialem Skelett. Mammalia Austriaca 4. Mitt. Abt. Zool.
Landesmus. Joanneum 9(3), 141-188.
For the femur, they list a single character that works well with juveniles,
less well with very old ones: Foramen nutricium present just medial to
Crista femoris s. Facies aspera in Rattus rattus. For. nutricium absent in
Rattus norvegicus (but occurs frequently in very old individuals).
Cheers,
vern
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