Examples of animals that look like a rat but are larger include the coypu, 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’ll take a look at animals that look like rats but are bigger.
We will also discuss some common features of these animals 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 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 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.
Bettongs are brown or gray in color and have a long tail.
3. Bosavi Woolly Rats
3. Bosavi Woolly Rats
Scientific nameMallomys spType of animalMammalDistributionProvince of Papua New Guinea
The Bosavi hairy rat is a species of rodent inhabiting the rainforests of Papua New Guinea.
It is the largest member of the Murinae subfamily, which includes all Old World rats and mice.
The Bosavi hairy rat grows to a length of about 80 cm (31 in) from head to body, with a tail almost as long.
He has thick, brown fur that covers his entire body except for his belly and feet.
The Bosavi hairy rat is a nocturnal creature that feeds on insects, spiders and other small animals.
Scientific name Hydrochoerus hydrochaerisType of animalMammalDistributionPanama, 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.
He also has a long head with small ears.
Related Article: Does the Capybara Have a Tail?
Scientific name Petromus typicusType of animalMammalDistributionNamibia, 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 domestic cat and have a tail almost as long as their body.
Dassie rats are adept climbers and often build their homes in rocky areas.
These animals are herbivores 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 looks 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.
The 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 that was found on the island of Hispaniola.
He was the largest representative of the Capromyidae family, to which all foundries belong.
The giant hutia can reach over 1 meter (3 feet) in length and weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb).
The huge Houthia had a stocky 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 nameCavia porcellusType of animalMammalDistributionSouth 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 reach around 12 inches in length and typically weigh between 2 and 3 pounds.
These animals have short, thick 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 mainly eat hay, grass and vegetables.
Scientific nameCapromyinaeType of animalMammalRangethe 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 snout 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.
Houtia is nocturnal and spends most of the day sleeping in hollows or in burrows dug by itself.
Scientific nameJaculusType of animalMammalRangethedeserts of northwestern China and southern Mongolia
Jerboa is a small rodent that lives in the deserts of North Africa and Asia.
They are nocturnal animals and their diet consists mainly of insects.
These animals can jump three feet in the air and have long tails to help them balance when landing.
Josephoartigasia was a large rodent native to South America.
It was one of the largest rodents in the world, with some individuals reaching over 1 meter (3 feet) in length.
Josephoartigasia had a rat-like body, with a long tail and small ears.
Its fur was brown or reddish, and its underparts were 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 nameMarmotaType of animalMammalOccurrenceNorth America and Europe
Marmots are a type of rodent closely related to the squirrel.
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.
Marmots are herbivores and eat a wide variety of plants.
Scientific nameOndatra zibethicusType of animalMammalDistributionNorth 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.
He 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 consisting mainly of plants.
It eats leaves, stems, roots and aquatic plants.
The muskrat is also known to eat small fish, frogs and crayfish.
The muskrat is a popular animal because of its fur.
Muskrat fur is thick and waterproof.
Scientific nameCastor canadensisType of animalMammalDistributionNorth 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, building dams and lodges in rivers and streams.
The beaver has a large head, small eyes and a furry tail.
Related Article: Does the Beaver Have Fur?
Scientific nameMyocastor coypusType of animalMammalDistributionSouth America
The nutria is a large, semi-aquatic rodent that is native to South America.
The nutria can grow up to three feet long and weigh up to 20 pounds.
These animals have brown or gray fur, webbed fingers, and a rat tail.
These animals are considered an 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 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 animalMammalOccurrenceArgentina
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 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 nameProcavia capensisType of animalMammalDistributionAfrica
The rock hyrax is a small, furry creature that lives in Africa and the Middle East.
He has a chubby body, short legs and a long mustache.
Rock Hyrax looks like a cross between a rat and a guinea pig.
Short-tailed opossum
Short-tailed opossum
Scientific nameMonodelphisType of animalMammalDistributionCentral 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 about the same size as a rat, but has a much shorter tail.
This animal is also covered with brown or black fur.
Scientific namePedetes capensisType of animalMammalOccurrence in semi-arid areas of southern 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 size, body shape, and tail.
Scientific name CtenomysType of animalMammalRangeSouthern half of South America
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.
Their sizes range 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 larger include the capybara, degu, and paca.
Dassie rats, Bosavi hairy rats, coypus, and bandicoot rats also have rodent similarities, but are larger.
Living in South Africa, I had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close.