What animal looks like a rat but is larger? - briefly
The capybara, the largest living rodent, resembles an oversized rat with a robust body and short tail. It inhabits South American wetlands and can weigh up to 60 kg.
What animal looks like a rat but is larger? - in detail
Animals that share a rat‑like body plan yet exceed typical rat dimensions include several large rodents. Their morphology—elongated body, pointed snout, prominent whiskers—mirrors that of a common rat, while overall size ranges from medium to massive.
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Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus): body length up to 50 cm, tail 15–25 cm, weight 0.7–2 kg. Fur dense and brown, tail flattened laterally for swimming. Habitat includes wetlands across North America and parts of Europe. Behavior combines nocturnal foraging on aquatic vegetation with burrowing.
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Beaver (Castor canadensis, Castor fiber): length 70–120 cm, tail 25–30 cm, weight 11–30 kg. Head broad, eyes and ears small, fur dark brown, tail flat and paddle‑shaped. Constructs dams and lodges in freshwater streams; diet consists of bark, leaves, and aquatic plants.
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Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris): length 100–130 cm, weight 35–66 kg. Body robust, head blunt, fur coarse brown. Lives in South American savannas, riverbanks, and wetlands; highly social, grazing on grasses and aquatic vegetation.
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African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus): length 30–45 cm, tail 20–30 cm, weight up to 1.5 kg. Coat brown to reddish, large cheek pouches for food storage. Native to sub‑Saharan Africa, occupies forests and savannas; employed in scent detection tasks due to keen olfactory ability.
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Agouti (Dasyprocta spp.): length 40–60 cm, weight 2–4 kg. Body slender, ears rounded, coat reddish‑brown with a darker stripe along the spine. Inhabit tropical forests of Central and South America; primarily herbivorous, feeding on fruits and seeds.
Each species exhibits the characteristic rodent silhouette while surpassing the size of typical Rattus spp. Their adaptations—enhanced swimming tails, powerful incisors, social structures—reflect ecological niches that demand larger body mass without abandoning the fundamental rat‑like form.