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 resemble rats, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the small, brown rodents.
However, there are some animals that look similar to rats but are much larger.
In this blog post we will look at animals that look like a rat but are bigger.
We will also discuss some features 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 nests in trees.
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 sp.Type animal, mammal, area 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 about 80 cm (31 in) from head to body, with a tail 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 Range of mammalsPanama, 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 capybara have a tail?
Scientific name Petromus typicus Type of animal Mammalian 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 their tail is almost as long as their body.
Dacia rats are skilled climbers and frequent rocky areas.
These animals are herbivores and their diet consists mainly of plants and seeds.
Scientific nameOctodon degus Animal 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 omnivorous and eats a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, insects, and other small animals.
The Giant Hutia was a large rodent found on the island of Hispaniola.
It was the largest member of the Capromyidae family, which includes all hutias.
The Giant Hutia can reach over 1 meter (3 feet) in length and weigh up to 45 kg (100 pounds).
Giant Hutia had a fat 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 name Cavia porcellus Animal type Mammalian 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 long and usually weigh between 2 and 3 pounds.
These animals have short, coarse fur that is brown, black or white in color.
They also have small, rounded ears and short, fat 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 name Capromyinae Type of animal mammal Bahamas
Hutia is a large rodent found in the Caribbean.
It can grow up to two feet tall and has a tail almost as long as its body.
The Hootie has a short, blunt muzzle and small, black eyes.
Its fur is coarse and ranges in color from brown to black.
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 excavated burrows.
Scientific name Jaculus A type of animal mammal The 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 consists mainly of 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 native to 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 rat-like body with a long tail and small ears.
Its fur was brown or reddish in color and its underparts were pale.
Josephoartigasia was herbivorous and its diet consisted of leaves, stems and roots.
Josephoartigasia was a great swimmer and it was also a good climber.
Scientific nameMarmotaType of animal Mammal rangeNorth America and Europe
Groundhogs are a type of rodent closely related to the squirrel.
They are large animals and have a long body with short legs.
Groundhogs 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 Animal type 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 skilled 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’s diet consists mainly of plants.
It will eat 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 name Castor canadensis Species 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 and builds dams and lodges in rivers and streams.
A beaver has a large head, small eyes and a fluffy tail.
Related article: Does a beaver have fur?
Scientific name Myocastor coypus Animal type mammal Range South America
The nutria is a large semi-aquatic rodent native to South America.
A nutria can grow up to three feet long and weigh up to 20 pounds.
These animals have brown or gray fur, toes, and a rat-like tail.
These animals are considered invasive species in many parts of the world because they can cause damage to local 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 family Dasyproctidae, which also includes agoutis and acouchis.
Pacarana is a herbivore and its diet consists of fruits, leaves and stems.
Scientific name Dolichotis patagonum Type of animal Mammal range Argentina
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 capensis Animal type Mammalian range Africa
The Rock Hyrax is a small, furry creature that lives in Africa and the Middle East.
It has a round 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 name Monodelphus Type of animal Range of mammals 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 it is actually a marsupial.
The short-tailed opossum has a body about the same size as a rat, but with a much shorter tail.
This animal is also covered with fur that is brown or black in color.
Scientific name Pedetes capensis Animal type Mammal distribution in semi-arid areas of southern Africa
The South African shrew is a rodent-like creature found in southern Africa.
It is similar to rats in many ways, including size, body shape, and tail.
Scientific name Animal mammal typeSouthern part of South America
Tuco-tuco or Ctenomys is a genus of rodents in the Ctenomyidae family.
Tuco-tuco 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-tuco are brown or gray with white bellies.
They have long claws which they use for digging.
Animals that look like a rat but are larger are the capybara, degu, and paca.
Dassie rats, Bosavi woolly rats, nutria, and bandicoot rats also share rodent similarities, but are larger.
Living in South Africa, I have had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.