Which is larger: a rat or a mole? - briefly
Rats generally exceed moles in both length and mass, reaching up to 30 cm and 200–500 g, whereas moles measure about 12–15 cm and weigh 70–150 g.
Which is larger: a rat or a mole? - in detail
Rats and moles differ markedly in overall dimensions. Adult brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) typically measure 20–25 cm in body length, with an additional 15–20 cm tail, and weigh 250–500 g. Some larger individuals reach 30 cm body length and 600 g. In contrast, the common European mole (Talpa europaea) has a body length of 12–15 cm, a short tail of 1–2 cm, and a mass of 70–120 g. The American mole (Scalopus aquaticus) is slightly larger, 15–20 cm in length and 150–200 g in weight, but still well below the lower size range of rats.
Key comparative points:
- Body length: rat ≈ 20–30 cm; mole ≈ 12–20 cm.
- Tail length: rat ≈ 15–20 cm; mole ≈ 1–2 cm.
- Mass: rat ≈ 250–600 g; mole ≈ 70–200 g.
- Skull size: rat skull length 3–4 cm; mole skull length 1.5–2 cm.
Morphology reflects ecological roles. Rats possess elongated bodies and long, prehensile tails suited for climbing and burrowing in varied habitats. Moles exhibit compact bodies, reduced eyes, and powerful forelimbs for digging, resulting in a stouter but smaller form.
Overall, the rodent species consistently exceeds the insectivore in linear dimensions and body mass. Consequently, a rat is larger than a mole across all standard measurements.