Examples of animals that look like a rat but are larger include nutria, bettong, capybara, dassie, and degu.
When you think of animals that look like rats, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the small, brown rodent.
However, there are some animals that look similar to rats but are much larger.
In this blog post we look at animals that look like rats but are bigger.
We will also discuss some of the features that these animals share with rats.
Examples of animals that look like a rat but are bigger
Examples of animals that look like a rat but are bigger
The bandicoot rat is a large rodent found in Africa and Asia.
These animals can grow up to three meters long, making them one of the largest rats in the world.
Bandicoot rats are brown or black in color and have a long tail.
They are good climbers and often build their nests in trees.
The bettong is a small, rat-like butterfly found in Australia.
They are about the same size as a large rat and have a similar body shape.
Bettongs are brown or gray in color and have a long tail.
3. Bosavi woolly rats
3. Bosavi woolly rats
Scientific name Mallomys spType of animal Mammal Range Province Papua New Guinea
The Bosavi Woolly Rat is a species of rodent native to the rainforests of Papua New Guinea.
It is the largest member of the subfamily Murinae, which includes all Old World rats and mice.
The Bosavi woolly rat grows to a length of about 80 cm (31 inches) from head to body, with a tail that is almost as long.
It has thick, brown fur that covers its entire body, except for its belly and feet.
The Bosavi Woolly Rat is a nocturnal creature that feeds on insects, spiders and other small animals.
Scientific nameHydrochoerus hydrochaerisType of animalsAnimalsSites RangePanama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Northeast Argentina and Uruguay
The capybara is a large rodent found in South America.
It is the largest living rodent in the world and can weigh up to 140 pounds.
The capybara has a reddish-brown coat and a long body with short legs.
It also has a long head with small ears.
Related Article: Do Capybaras Have Tails?
Scientific namePetromus typicusType of animalMotherAnimalRangeNamibia, parts of Angola, and northwestern South Africa
The Dassie Rat is a type of rodent found in South Africa.
These animals are also known as rock rats or zygodactyls.
They are about the size of a house cat and have a tail that is almost as long as their body.
Dassie rats are adept climbers and often make their homes in rocky areas.
These animals are herbivores and their diet consists mainly of plants and seeds.
Scientific name Octodon degus Type of animal mammal Range Central Chile
The degu is a small rodent found in Chile.
Degu look like large rats and can grow to about the same size.
They have brown fur, long tails and big ears.
Degus are social animals that live in colonies.
Degu is an omnivore and eats a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, insects and other small animals.
The Giant Hutia was a large rodent found on the island of Hispaniola.
It was the largest member of the family Capromyidae, which includes all hutias.
The giant hutia can reach a length of over 1 meter (3 feet) and weigh up to 45 kg (100 pounds).
The giant Hutia had a stout body and a short tail.
Its fur was reddish brown to gray in color, and it had a white belly.
The giant Hutia was an omnivore, eating both plants and animals.
Scientific name Cavia porcellus Species of animal Acid Range South American continent
The guinea pig is a rodent native to South America.
These animals are often kept as pets in homes around the world.
Guinea pigs can grow to about 12 inches long and they usually weigh between 2 and 3 pounds.
These animals have short, coarse fur that is brown, black or white in color.
They also have small, rounded ears and short, stubby legs.
Like rats, guinea pigs are social animals that enjoy the company of others.
These animals are herbivores and they mainly eat hay, grass and vegetables.
Scientific name Capromyinae type of animal mammals Rangethe Bahamas
The Hutia is a large rodent found in the Caribbean.
It can grow up to two meters long, and it has a tail that is almost as long as its body.
The hutia has a short, blunt snout, and small, black eyes.
Its fur is coarse and varies in color from brown to black.
The hutia is a herbivore, and its diet consists of fruits, leaves and stems.
It is a good swimmer, and it often climbs trees in search of food.
The hutia is nocturnal, and it spends most of the day sleeping in hollow trees or in burrows it has dug.
Scientific name Jaculus type of animal mammal Rangethe deserts of northwest China and southern Mongolia
The jerboa is a small rodent-like creature that lives in the deserts of North Africa and Asia.
They are nocturnal and their diet consists mostly of insects.
These animals can jump up to three feet in the air and they have long tails that help them balance when they land.
Josefoartigasia was a large rodent native to South America.
It was one of the largest rodents in the world, with some individuals reaching lengths of over 1 meter (3 ft).
Josepoartigasia had a body that was similar in shape to a rat, with a long tail and small ears.
Its fur was brown or reddish in color, and its underside was pale.
Josefoartigasia was a herbivore, and its diet consisted of leaves, stems and roots.
Josepoartigasia was an excellent swimmer, and was also a good climber.
Scientific nameMarmotaType of animalMammal RangeNorth America and Europe
Marmots are a type of rodent closely related to the squirrel.
They are large animals, and they have long bodies with short legs.
Marmots are found in North America and Europe.
They live in burrows and are active during the day.
Marmots are herbivores, and they eat a variety of plants.
Scientific name Ondatra zibethicus Type of animal Mammal Range North America
The muskrat is a large rodent found in North America.
It has a long body and a short tail.
The muskrat is an excellent swimmer and can stay underwater for long periods of time.
It is a skilled climber and can often be seen climbing trees.
The muskrat is mainly active at night and during the day it is often seen resting in its burrow.
The muskrat has a diet consisting mostly of plants.
It eats leaves, stems, roots and aquatic plants.
The muskrat is also known to eat small fish, frogs and crabs.
The muskrat is a popular animal for its fur.
The fur of the muskrat is thick and waterproof.
Scientific name Castor canadensis Species of animal Mammal Range North America
The North American beaver is the largest rodent in North America and can weigh up to 60 pounds.
It is a semi-aquatic animal and builds dams and lodges in rivers and streams.
The beaver has a big head, small eyes and furry tails.
Related Article: Do Beavers Have Fur?
Scientific name Myocastor coypus Species of animal Mammal Range South America
The nutria is a large, semi-aquatic rodent native to South America.
Nutria can grow up to three feet long and weigh up to 20 pounds.
These animals have brown or gray fur, webbed teeth, and a rat-like tail.
These animals are considered invasive species in many parts of the world because they can cause damage to native ecosystems.
The Pacarana is a large rodent found in the tropical forests of South America.
It has a body length of up to 80 cm (31 in) and a tail length of up to 50 cm (20 in).
Pacarana is the largest member of the family Dasyproctidae, which also includes agoutis and acouchis.
The pacarana is a herbivore and its diet consists of fruits, leaves and stems.
Scientific name Dolichotis patagonum type of animal
The Patagonian Mara is a rodent found in South America.
It is the largest member of the Caviidae family, which also includes guinea pigs and chinchillas.
The Patagonian Mara has a rat-like body with long legs and ears.
It is brown or gray in color with a white underside.
The Patagonian mara is a herbivore and feeds on grasses, leaves and fruit.
Scientific name Procavia capensis Type of animal Acid RangeAfrica
The rock hyrax is a small, furry creature that lives in Africa and the Middle East.
It has a plump body, short legs, and long whiskers.
The rock hyrax looks like a cross between a rat and a guinea pig.
Short-tailed opossum
Short-tailed opossum
Scientific name Monodelphis type of animal mammal Range Central and South America
The short-tailed opossum is a species of opossum found in Central and South America.
This animal looks like a rat, but it is actually a marsupial.
The short-tailed opossum has a body that is about the same size as a rat, but it has a much shorter tail.
This animal is also covered in fur that is brown or black in color.
Scientific name Pedetes capensis type of animal mammal passing through semi-arid areas in South Africa
The South African spring hare is a rodent-like creature found in the southern part of Africa.
It is similar to a rat in many ways, including its size, body shape and tail.
Scientific name type of animal mammal Range the southern half of South America
The tuco-tuco, or Ctenomys, is a genus of rodents in the family Ctenomyidae.
Tuco-tucos are found throughout South America, from Argentina to Peru.
They are burrowing animals and live in colonies of up to 100 individuals.
These rodents are heavily built, with short limbs and large heads.
They range in size from 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 inches), with the largest species weighing up to 4 kg (9 pounds).
Tuco-tucos are brown or grey, with white bellies.
They have long claws that they use for digging.
The animals that look like a rat but are bigger are the capybara, degu and paca.
The dassie rats, bosavi wool rats, nutria and bandicoot rats also have similarities with a rodent but are larger in size.
Living in South Africa, I have had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.