Examples of animals that look like a rat but are larger include otter, bettong, capybara, dassie and degu.
When you think of animals that look like rats, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the small brown rodents.
However, there are some animals that look like rats but are much larger.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at animals that look like rats but are larger in size.
We will also discuss some of the characteristics that 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 larger
The bandicoot rat is a large rodent found in Africa and Asia.
These animals can grow up to three feet 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 marsupial found in Australia.
They are about the same size as a large rat and have a similar body shape.
Betongs are brown or gray in color and have a long tail.
3. Bosavi woolly mice
3. Bosavi woolly mice
Scientific name Mallomys spType of animal Mammals Range 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 animalMammals Range Panama, 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 kilograms.
The capybara has reddish-brown fur 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 animalMammals RangeNamibia, 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 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 NameOctodon degusType of AnimalMammalsRangocentro Chile
The degu is a small rodent found in Chile.
Degu look like large rats and can grow to be about the same size.
They have brown fur, long tails and large ears.
Degus are social animals that live in colonies.
Degu is omnivorous and eats a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, insects, and other small animals.
The Giant Hutia was a large rodent that was found on the island of Hispaniola.
It was the largest member of the Capromyidae family, 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 Hutia Giant had a stout body and a short tail.
Its fur was reddish brown to gray, and it had a white belly.
The Hutia Giant was an omnivore, eating both plants and animals.
Scientific nameCavia porcellusType of animalMammals RangeSouth 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 up to 12 inches long and usually weigh between 2 and 3 pounds.
These animals have a short and thick coat of brown, black or white 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 eat mainly hay, grass and vegetables.
Scientific name CapromyinaeType of animal Mammals Rangelas Bahamas
The hutia is a large rodent found in the Caribbean.
It can grow up to two feet long and has a tail almost as long as its body.
The hutia has a short, blunt muzzle and small, black eyes.
Its fur is thick 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 often climbs trees in search of food.
The hutia is nocturnal, and spends most of the day sleeping in hollow trees or in burrows it digs.
Scientific name XaculusType of animalMammals Deserts of northwestern China and southern Mongolia
The gerbil is a small rodent-like creature that lives in the deserts of North Africa and Asia.
They are nocturnal animals and their diet consists mostly of insects.
These animals can jump up to three feet in the air and have a long tail that helps them balance when they land.
Josephoartigasia was a large rodent originally from South America.
It was one of the largest rodents in the world, with some individuals reaching lengths of over 1 meter (3 feet).
Josephoartigasia had a rat-like body with a long tail and small ears.
Its fur was brown or reddish, and its underside was pale.
Josephoartigasia was a herbivore, and its diet consisted of leaves, stems and roots.
Josephoartigasia was an excellent swimmer, and also a good climber.
Scientific name GroundhogType of animalMammalsRange North America and Europe
Groundhogs are a type of rodent that is closely related to the squirrel.
They are large animals, and have long bodies and short legs.
Marmots are found in North America and Europe.
They live in burrows and are active during the day.
Groundhogs are herbivores and eat a variety of plants.
Scientific name Ondatra zibethicus Type of animal Mammals 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 will often be seen resting in its burrow.
The muskrat has a diet consisting mainly 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 canadensisType of animalMammalsRangeNorth 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 shelters in rivers and streams.
The beaver has a large head, small eyes and furry tails.
Related article: Does the beaver have fur?
Scientific name Myocastor coypusType of animalMammalsRange South America
The otter is a large semi-aquatic rodent that is native to South America.
Otters 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, as 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).
The pacarana is the largest member of the Dasyproctidae family, which also includes agoutis and acouchis.
The pacarana is a herbivore and its diet consists of fruits, leaves and stems.
Scientific name Dolichotis patagonumType of animalMammalsRangeArgentina
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 fruits.
Scientific name Procavia capensisType of animalMammalsRangeAfrica
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 possum
Short-tailed possum
Scientific nameMonodelphisType of animalMammalsRange of 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 is actually a marsupial.
The short-tailed possum has a body that is about the same size as a rat, but has a much shorter tail.
This animal is also covered in brown or black fur.
Scientific name Pedetes capensisType of animalMammals Semi-arid areas of southern Africa
The South African 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 nameCtenomysType of animalMammalsRangea southern half of South America
The tuco-tuco, or Ctenomys, is a genus of rodents in 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 have a heavy build, with short limbs and large heads.
Their sizes vary 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 gray with a white belly.
They have long claws that they use to dig.
Animals that look like a rat but are larger are the capybara, the degu, and the paca.
Dassie rats, Bosavi woolly rats, otter and bandicoot rats also have similarities to a rodent but are larger in size.
Living in South Africa I had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close.