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

Examples of animals that look like a mouse but are larger include the nutria, bettong, capybara, dassie, and degu.

When you think of animals that look like mice, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the little brown rodents.

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

In this blog post, we will take a look at animals that look like mice but are larger in size.

We will also discuss some of the features these animals share with rats.

Examples of animals that look like a mouse, but larger

Examples of animals that look like a mouse, but 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 rodents 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.

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

They are 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 spAnimal SpeciesRangeMammal Province of Papua New Guinea

The Bosavi woolly mouse is a hamster that is 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 mouse 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 the entire body except for the belly and legs.

The Bosavi woolly mouse is a nocturnal creature that feeds on 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 living rodent 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 with small ears.

Related Article: Does the Capybara have a tail?

Scientific NamePetromus typicusType of AnimalRag of MammalsNamibia, parts of Angola and northwestern South Africa

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

These animals are also known as rock rats or zygodactyls.

They are the size of a house cat and have a tail that is almost as long as their body.

Dassie rats are skilled 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 MammalCentral range of Chile

The degu is a small rodent found in Chile.

Degu look like big mice and can grow to 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.

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).

Giant Hutia had a strong body and a short tail.

Its fur was reddish brown to gray in color and it had a white belly.

Giant Hutia was an omnivore, eating plants and animals.

Scientific NameCavia porcellusType of MammalRange South American continent

The guinea pig is a rodent that is 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 short and thick fur, brown, black or white in color.

They also have small, rounded ears and short, sharp 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 MammalRangethe Bahamas

The hutia is a large rodent found in the Caribbean.

It can grow up to two feet long and has a tail that is almost as long as its body.

Hutia has a short, open snout and small, black eyes.

Its fur is thick 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.

Hutia is nocturnal and spends most of the day sleeping in hollow trees or in burrows it has dug.

Scientific Name JaculusType of MammalRangethe 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 animals 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 sitting.

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 body that was similar in shape to a mouse, with a long tail and small ears.

Her fur was brown or reddish in color and her underparts were pale.

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

Josephoartigasia was an excellent swimmer and was also a good climber.

Scientific Name Marmota Species Mammal Range North America and Europe

Marmots are a type of hamster that is 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 variety of plants.

Scientific Name Ondatra zibethicus Species 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 mostly active at night and during the day it will often be seen resting in its den.

Muskrats have a diet consisting mainly of plants.

It will eat leaves, stems, roots and aquatic plants.

Muskrats are also known to eat small fish, frogs and crayfish.

The muskrat is an animal known for its fur.

Moss 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 kilograms.

It is a semi-aquatic animal and builds dams and lodges in rivers and streams.

The beaver has a large head, small eyes and fluffy tails.

Related article: Does Beaver have fur?

Scientific Name Myocastor coypusType of mammal in South America

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

Nutria 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 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).

Pacarana is the largest member of the Dasyproctidae family, which also includes agoutis and acouchis.

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

Scientific NameDolichotis patagonumType of MammalRangeArgentina

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 mouse-like body with long legs and ears.

It is brown or gray in color with a white underside.

The Patagonian Mara is herbivorous and feeds on grasses, leaves and fruits.

Scientific name Procavia capensis Species Mammal Range Africa

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

It has a fat body, short legs and a long mustache.

The Rock Hyrax looks like a cross between a rat and a guinea pig.

Short-tailed opossum

Short-tailed opossum

Scientific NameMonodelphisType Mammal Central and Southern Range

The short-tailed opossum is a species of opossum found in Central and South America.

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

The short-tailed opossum has a body that is about the same size as a mouse, but has a much shorter tail.

This animal is also covered with brown or black fur.

Scientific Name Pedetes capensis Species Mammal Around all semi-arid areas in southern Africa

The South African warbler is a rodent-like creature found in the southern part of Africa.

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

Scientific Name Ctenomys Species Mammal Range southern 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 a large head.

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 with a white belly.

They have long claws that they use for digging.

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

Ram rats, Bosavi woolly rats, nutria and bandicoot rats also have a resemblance to a rodent, but are larger in size.

Living in South Africa, I have had the pleasure of seeing most of these animals up close and personal.