Examples of rodent-like but larger animals include the nutria, bettong, capybara, dassie, and degu.
When you think of rodent-like animals, the first thing that often comes to mind is small, brown rats.
However, there are other animals that resemble rats but are much larger.
In this book, we will look at animals that look like rats but are bigger.
We will also discuss some things that these animals share with rodents.
Examples Of Animals That Look Like Rats But Are Bigger
Examples Of Animals That Look Like Rats But Are Bigger
The bandicoot rat is a large rodent found in Africa and Asia.
These animals can grow up to three meters, making them one of the largest rodents in the world.
Bandicoot rats are brown or black and have a long tail.
They are good climbers and often build their nests in trees.
Bettong is a small, rodent-like animal found in Australia.
They are about the same size as a large rat and have a similar body.
Bettos are brown or gray and have a long tail.
3. Bosavi Woolly Rats
3. Bosavi Woolly Rats
Scientific NameMallomys spType MammalRangeProvince of Papua New Guinea
The Bosavi woolly rat is a species of rodent found in 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 hairy rat grows to a length of 80 cm (31 in) from head to body, and its tail is very long.
It has thick, brown fur that covers the entire body, except for the belly and feet.
The Bosavi woolly rat is a nocturnal creature that feeds on insects, spiders and other small animals.
Scientific Name Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Species Range Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Northeast Argentina, and Uruguay
Capybara is a large rodent found in South America.
It is the largest rat 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 and small ears.
Related Article: Does Capybara Have a Tail?
Scientific Name Petromus typicus 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 known as rock rats or zygodactyls.
They are as big as a house cat and have a tail that is longer than their body.
Dassie rats are good climbers and often build their homes in rocky areas.
These animals eat grass and their diet consists mainly of plants and seeds.
Scientific NameOctodon degusType of AnimalMammalRangecentral Chile
The degu is a small rodent found in Chile.
Degu look like large rodents and can grow to the same size.
They have brown fur, long tails and big ears.
Degus are gregarious animals.
Degu is a saltwater animal and eats a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, insects, and other small animals.
The giant Hutia was a large mouse 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 grow to over one meter (3 feet) tall and weigh up to 45 kg (100 pounds).
The giant Hutia had a strong body and a short tail.
His fur was brown to gray, and his belly was white.
The giant Hutia was a wild animal, eating all plants and animals.
Scientific NameCavia porcellusType of Animal MammalRangeSouth America
Pigs are rodents that come from South America.
These animals are often kept as pets in homes around the world.
Guinea pigs can grow up to 12 inches and usually weigh between 2 and 3 pounds.
These animals have short, dark brown, black, or white fur.
They also have small, round ears and short, stocky legs.
Like rats, pigs are animals that enjoy socializing.
These animals are herbivores and mainly eat grass, grass and vegetables.
Scientific NameCapromyinaeFamily of MammalsRangethe Bahamas
Hutia is a large rat found in the Caribbean.
It can grow up to two meters in length, and has a tail almost as long as its body.
Hutia has a short, blunt nose, and small, black eyes.
Its fur is thick and varies in color from brown to black.
Hutia eats grass, and its diet consists of fruits, leaves, and stems.
It swims well and often climbs trees in search of food.
The pig is nocturnal, and spends most of the day sleeping in the trees or in the holes it has dug.
Scientific NameJaculusType Of MammalThe deserts of northwestern China and southern Mongolia
The jerboa is a small rodent-like creature that lives in the deserts of northern Africa and Asia.
They are nocturnal animals and their diet consists of insects.
These animals can jump up to three meters high and have long tails that help them to keep their feet on the ground.
Josephoartigasia was a large rat native to South America.
It was one of the largest rodents in the world, with some individuals reaching 1 meter (3 ft) in length.
Josephoartigasia had a rat-like body, with a long tail and small ears.
His fur was brown or red, and his underparts were grey.
Josephoartigasia was a herbivore, and its diet consisted of leaves, stems, and roots.
The Josephoartigasia river was very swimmable, and it was very steep.
Scientific NameMarmotaType of Animal MammalRangeNorth America and Europe
A caterpillar is a type of rodent that closely resembles a squirrel.
They are large animals, and have long bodies and short legs.
These birds are found in North America and Europe.
They live in burrows, and are active during the day.
The larvae feed on grass, and feed on a variety of plants.
Scientific NameOndatra zibethicusType of MammalRangeNorth America
Muskrats are large rodents found in North America.
It has a long body and a short tail.
Muskrats are excellent swimmers and can stay underwater for long periods of time.
He is an expert climber and can often be seen climbing trees.
The muskrat is most active at night and during the day it is often seen resting in its hole.
Muskrats have a diet that mostly consists of plants.
It will eat leaves, stems, roots, and aquatic plants.
Muskrats are also known to eat small fish, frogs, and crabs.
Muskrat is an animal famous for its fur.
Muskrat fur is thick and waterproof.
Scientific Name Castor canadensis Species Mammal Range North America
The North American squirrel is the largest rodent in North America and can weigh up to 60 pounds.
It is an aquatic animal and builds dams and shelters in rivers and streams.
This bird has a big head, small eyes, and furry tails.
Related Article: Do Beavers Have Fur?
Scientific NameMyocastor coypusType of AnimalMammalRangeSouth America
Nutria is a large, aquatic rodent that lives in South America.
Nutria can grow up to three feet and weigh up to 20 pounds.
These animals have brown or gray fur, toes, and a rat-like tail.
These animals are considered nuisance species in many parts of the world, because they can destroy the natural environment.
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 Dasyproctidae family, which also includes agoutis and acouchis.
The pacarana is a herbivore and its diet consists of fruits, leaves, and stems.
Scientific NameDolichotis patagonumType of Animal MammalRangeArgentina
The Patagonian Mara is a rodent found in South America.
It is the largest member of the Caviidae family, which also includes pigs and chinchillas.
The Patagonian mara has a rat-like body with long legs and ears.
It is brown or gray in color and white underneath.
The Patagonian Mara is a herbivore and eats grass, leaves, and fruits.
Scientific NameProcavia capensisType of AnimalMammalRangeAfrica
The Rock Hyrax is a small furry animal that lives in Africa and the Middle East.
It has a fat body, short legs, and a long beard.
The Rock Hyrax looks like a cross between a rat and a badger.
Short-Tailed Opossum
Short-Tailed Opossum
Scientific NameMonodelphisType of AnimalMammalRangeCentral and South America
The Short-tailed Opossum is a type of opossum found in Central and South America.
This animal looks like a rat, but it is actually a rat.
The Short-Tailed Opossum has a body similar to a rat, but has a much shorter tail.
The animal is also covered with brown or black fur.
Scientific NamePedetes capensisMammal SpeciesAbundant throughout the arid regions of southern Africa
The South African Springhare is a rodent-like animal found in southern Africa.
It resembles a rat in many ways, including its size, body, and tail.
Scientific NameCtenomysTypes of MammalsRange the southern half of South America
Tuco-tuco, or Ctenomys, is a species of rodent in the Ctenomyidae family.
Tuco-tucos are found in South America, from Argentina to Peru.
They dig for prey and live in groups of up to 100 individuals.
These rats are heavily built, with short legs and large heads.
They range in size from 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 inches), and the largest species weigh up to 4 kg (9 pounds).
Tuco-tucos are brown or gray, with white bellies.
They have long claws that they use for digging.
Animals that look like rats but are larger are the capybara, degu, and paca.
Dassie rats, Bosavi fur rats, nutria, and bandicoots are also similar to rats but are larger in size.
Living in South Africa I have had the pleasure of seeing many of these animals up close and personal.