21 Animals That Look Like a Rat But Are Actually Much Cuter

Examples of rodent-like but larger animals include the nutria, bettong, capybara, dassie, and degu.

When you think of rodents, the first thing that comes to mind is usually small, brown mice.

However, there are animals that look similar to rats but are larger in size.

In this blog post, we’ll look at animals that look like mice but are much larger.

We will also discuss some of the things used by these animals and mice.

Examples of animals that look like a mouse but are larger

Examples of animals that look like a mouse but are larger

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 rodents in the world.

Bandicoot rats are brown or black in color and have a long tail.

They can climb and often build their nests in trees.

The Bettong is a small, rat-like marsupial found in Australia.

They are the size of a large mouse and have the same body.

Bettos are brown or gray in color and have a long tail.

3. Bosavi hairy rats

3. Bosavi hairy rats

Scientific nameMallomys spType of mammalProvincial range Papua New Guinea

The Bosavi woolly mouse is a type of mouse that lives in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea.

It is the largest member of the subfamily Murinae, which includes all Old World mice and rats.

The Bosavi woolly mouse grows to a length of 80 cm (31 in) from head to body, with a nearly long tail.

It has thick, brown fur that covers its entire body, except for its belly and feet.

The Bosavi rat is a nocturnal creature that eats insects, spiders, and other small animals.

Scientific Name Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Species Mammal 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 rat in the world and weighs up to 140 kilograms.

Capybara has a bright red coat with a long body and short legs.

It also has a long head and small ears.

Related article: Does Capybara have a tail?

Scientific Name Petromus Species Mammal Range Namibia, parts of Angola, and northwestern South Africa.

The dassie rat is a type of rat found in southern Africa.

These animals are also called 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 good at climbing and often live in rocky areas.

These animals are herbivores and their diet mainly consists of plants and seeds.

Scientific Name Octodon degus Species Mammal Rangecentral Chile

The degu is a small rodent found in Chile.

Degu look like large mice and can grow to size.

They have brown fur, long tails and large ears.

Degus are colony animals.

The Degu is an omnivore and eats a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, insects and other small animals.

The great Hutia was a large mouse found on the island of Hispaniola.

It was a large member of the Capromyidae family, which includes all hutias.

The Hutia Giant can reach a length of over one meter (three feet) and weigh up to 45 kilograms (100 kilograms).

The giant Hutia had a strong body and a short tail.

Its fur is reddish-brown to gray in color, and it has a white belly.

The Hutia giant was an omnivore, eating both plants and animals.

Scientific Name Cavia porcellus Class Mammal 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 tall and typically weigh between 2 and 3 pounds.

These animals have short, coarse fur that is brown, black or white in color.

They also have small, round ears and short, stubby legs.

Like rats, pigs are social animals.

These animals are herbivores and mainly eat grasses, grasses and vegetables.

Scientific Name Capromyinae Mammal Species Range Bahamas

The hutia is a large rodent found in the Caribbean.

It can grow up to two meters long, with a tail almost as long as its body.

Hutia have short, blunt noses, and small black eyes.

Its fur is rough and comes in a brown to black color.

Hutia is a herbivore, and its diet consists of fruits, leaves and stems.

It is a swimmer that can swim, and it always climbs trees in search of food.

Hutia sleeps at night, and spends the whole day sleeping in hollow trees or dug holes.

Scientific Name Jaculus Mammal Type Deserts of northwestern 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 includes insects.

These animals can jump up to three meters in the air and have long tails that help them balance when landing.

Josephoartigasia was a large rodent native to South America.

It was one of the largest rodents in the world, some individuals reaching a length of more than one meter (3 ft).

Josephoartigasia had a body that resembled a mouse, with a long tail and small ears.

Its fur was brown or reddish in color, and its underparts were pale.

Josephoartigasia was a herbivore, and its diet consisted of leaves, stems and roots.

Josephoartigasia was an excellent swimmer, and could climb mountains.

Scientific Name MarmotaA genus of mammals in North America and Europe

Marmots are a type of rodent closely related to squirrels.

They are large animals, and have long bodies with short legs.

Marmots are found in North America and Europe.

They live in burrows, and are active during the day.

Badgers are herbivores, and eat a wide variety of plants.

Scientific Name Ondatra zibethicusA genus of mammals in 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 most active at night and during the day it is usually seen resting in its burrow.

The muskrat has a diet that includes many plants.

It will feed on leaves, stems, roots and aquatic plants.

The muskrat is known to eat small fish, frogs and crayfish.

The muskrat is a popular animal for its fur.

Muskrat fur is thick and waterproof.

Scientific NameCastor canadensisA type of mammal in North America

The North American beaver is the largest in North America and can weigh up to 60 kilograms.

It is an aquatic animal and builds ponds and habitats in rivers and streams.

A beaver has a large head, small eyes and furry tails.

Related Article: Do Beavers Have Fur?

Scientific Name Myocastor coypus Species Mammal Range South America

The nutria is a large, aquatic rodent native to South America.

Nutria can grow up to three meters in length and weigh up to 20 kilograms.

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 the natural environment.

The pacarana is a large rodent found in the rainforests 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 includes agoutis and acouchis.

The pacarana is a herbivore and its diet includes fruits, leaves and stems.

Scientific NameDolichotis patagonumType of MammalsArgentine Range

The Patagonian Mara is a rat 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 mouse-like body with long legs and ears.

Brown or gray in color with a white underside.

The Patagonian Mara is a herbivore and eats grass, leaves and fruit.

Scientific NameProcavia capensisType AnimalMammalRangeAfrica

The Rock Hyrax is a small furry creature that lives in Africa and the Middle East.

It has a fat 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 NameMonodelphisClass of Mammals in Central and South America

The Short-Tailed Opossum is a species of opossum found in Central and South America.

This animal looks like a mouse, but it is actually a marsupial.

The Short-Tailed Opossum has a body about the size of a mouse, but has a much shorter tail.

This animal is also covered with brown or black fur.

Scientific name Pedetes capensis Species of mammal Range throughout the arid regions of southern Africa

The South African plant is a rat-like animal found in southern Africa.

It resembles a mouse in many ways, including its size, body shape and tail.

Scientific NameIctenomysMammal genusSouthern South America

The tuco-tuco, or Ctenomys, is a species of rodent in the Ctenomyidae family.

Tuco-tucos are found throughout South America, from Argentina to Peru.

They burrow animals and live in colonies of up to 100 individuals.

These mice are very built, with short legs 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 gray in color, with white bellies.

They have long claws that they use for digging.

Animals that look like rodents but are larger are the capybara, degu, and paca.

Dassie rats, Bosavi fur rats, nutria, and bandicoot rats also resemble rats but are larger in size.

Living in South Africa I have enjoyed seeing many of these animals up close and personal.