Examples of animals that look like a rat but are larger include the nutria, bettong, capybara, dassie, and degu.
When you think of animals that look like rats, the first thing that comes to mind is usually small brown rodents.
However, there are 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 traits these animals share with rats.
Examples of animals that look like a rat but are larger
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 feet in length, making them some 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 nests in trees.
Bettong is a small rat-like marsupial native to Australia.
They are about the same size as large rats and have a similar body shape.
Stakes are brown or gray in color and have a long tail.
3. Bosavi Woolly rats
3. Bosavi Woolly rats
Scientific nameMallomys spType of animal MammalAreas of the province of 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 in) 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 animal Mammal RangePanama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, northeastern 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 reddish-brown fur and a long body with short legs.
It also has a long head with small ears.
Related article: Does the capybara have a tail?
Scientific name Petromus typicus Type of animal Mammal Range Namibia, parts of Angola and northwestern South Africa
The dassie rat is a species of rodent found in southern 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 home in rocky areas.
These animals are herbivores and their diet consists mainly of plants and seeds.
Scientific nameOctodon degusAnimal type 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 large ears.
Degus are social animals that live in colonies.
Degu is an omnivore and feeds on a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, insects and other small animals.
Giant Hutia was a large rodent found on the island of Hispaniola.
It was the largest representative of the Capromyidae family, to which all smelts belong.
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 strong body and a short tail.
Its fur was reddish brown to gray and it had a white belly.
The giant Hutia was an omnivore, feeding on both plants and animals.
Scientific nameCavia porcellusType of animalRange of mammalsSouth American continent
The guinea pig is a rodent that comes from South America.
These animals are often kept as pets in households around the world.
Guinea pigs can grow to about 12 inches in length and usually weigh 2 to 3 pounds.
These animals have short, coarse fur of brown, black or white color.
They also have small, rounded ears and short, stocky legs.
Like rats, guinea pigs are social animals that enjoy the company of others.
These animals are herbivores and eat mainly hay, grass and vegetables.
Scientific name Capromyinae Animal type Mammal Range in the Bahamas
Hutia is a large rodent found in the Caribbean.
It can grow up to two feet long and has a tail that is almost as long as its body.
Hutia has a short blunt snout and small black eyes.
Its fur is coarse and ranges in color from brown to black.
Hutia is a herbivore and its food consists of fruits, leaves and stems.
It is a good swimmer and often climbs trees in search of food.
Hútia is nocturnal and spends most of the day sleeping in hollow trees or burrows it has dug.
Scientific nameJaculusType of animal Mammal Range of deserts of northwestern China and southern Mongolia
A jerboa is a small rodent-like creature that lives in the deserts of North Africa and Asia.
They are nocturnal animals and their food is mainly insects.
These animals can jump up to three feet in the air and have long tails that help them balance when they land.
Josephoartigasia was a large rodent that originated in South America.
It was one of the largest rodents in the world, with some individuals reaching over 1 meter (3 ft) in length.
Josephoartigasia had a body that was shaped like a rat, with a long tail and small ears.
Its fur was brown or reddish and the underside was pale.
Josephoartigasia was a herbivore and its diet consisted of leaves, stems and roots.
Josephoartigasia was an excellent swimmer and was also a good climber.
Scientific nameMarmotaType of animalMammalRangeNorth America and Europe
Marmots are a type of rodent that is closely related to the squirrel.
They are large animals and have a long body 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 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 proficient climber and can often be seen climbing trees.
The muskrat is mainly active at night and can often be seen resting in its burrow during the day.
The muskrat has a diet that consists mostly of plants.
It will eat leaves, stems, roots and aquatic plants.
The muskrat is also known to eat small fish, frogs and crayfish.
The muskrat is a popular animal for its fur.
The fur of the muskrat is thick and waterproof.
Scientific name Castor canadensis Type 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 that builds dams and huts in rivers and streams.
The beaver has a large head, small eyes and furry tails.
Related article: Does a beaver have fur?
Scientific name Myocastor coypus Animal type Mammal Range South America
Nutria is a large semi-aquatic rodent that originates from South America.
Nutria can grow up to three feet long and weigh up to 20 pounds.
These animals have brown or gray fur, webbed toes, 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.
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 Dasyproctidae family, which also includes agoutis and acouchis.
Pacarana is a herbivore and its food consists of fruits, leaves and stems.
Scientific nameDolichotis patagonumType of animalMammalRangeArgentina
The Patagonian Mara is a rodent found in South America.
It is the largest representative 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 fruits.
Scientific name Procavia capensis Type of animal Mammal Range Africa
The rock hyrax is a small furry creature that lives in Africa and the Middle East.
He has a plump body, short legs and a long mustache.
The Rock Hyrax looks like a cross between a rat and a guinea pig.
Short-tailed opossums
Short-tailed opossums
Scientific nameMonodelphisType of animalRange of mammalsCentral 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 is actually a marsupial.
The short-tailed opossum has a body about the same size as a rat, but a much shorter tail.
This animal is also covered with fur, which is brown or black in color.
Scientific namePedetes capensisType of animal Mammal Range in semi-arid areas in southern Africa
The South African spring hare is a rodent-like creature found in the southern part of Africa.
It resembles a rat in many ways, including its size, body shape, and tail.
Scientific nameCtenomysType of animal MammalExtent of the southern half of South America
Tuco-tuco or Ctenomys is a genus of rodents from the Ctenomyidae family.
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 powerfully built, with short limbs and large heads.
They range in size from 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in), with the largest species weighing up to 4 kg (9 lb).
Tuco-tucos are brown or gray with white bellies.
They have long claws that they use for digging.
Animals that look like a rat but are bigger are the capybara, degu and paca.
Dassie rats, Bosavi rats, nutria and bandicoot rats also resemble rodents but are larger.
When I lived in South Africa, I had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.