What is the Biggest Rat?

Rats are often associated with being small, sneaky creatures that scurry around in the dark.

However, some species of rats can grow to surprisingly large sizes.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the world’s biggest rats and learn more about these fascinating rodents.

The Bosavi Woolly Rat

The Bosavi woolly rat (Mallomys rothschildi) is arguably the largest rat in the world.

Discovered in 2009 in the rainforests of Papua New Guinea, this giant rat can grow up to 32 inches (82 cm) from nose to tail and weigh around 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg).

This is about the size of a small domestic cat!

The Bosavi woolly rat has a thick, woolly fur that is silver-brown in color.

It is believed to be a herbivore, feeding on leaves and possibly fruit.

Little is known about its behavior in the wild, as it was only recently discovered.

The Gambian Pouched Rat

Another contender for the title of the world’s largest rat is the Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus).

Native to Africa, this rat can grow up to 3 feet (90 cm) long, including its tail, and weigh up to 3 pounds (1.4 kg).

The Gambian pouched rat gets its name from the large, hamster-like pouches in its cheeks, which it uses to carry food.

These rats are omnivores, feeding on a variety of plant and animal matter.

Interestingly, they have been trained to detect landmines and tuberculosis in humans, thanks to their keen sense of smell.

The Sumatran Bamboo Rat

The Sumatran bamboo rat (Rhizomys sumatrensis) is another large rat species, found in Southeast Asia.

It can grow up to 20 inches (50 cm) long and weigh up to 8.8 pounds (4 kg), making it one of the heaviest rats in the world.

As its name suggests, the Sumatran bamboo rat feeds primarily on bamboo.

It has strong, sharp incisors that allow it to gnaw through the tough plant material.

These rats live in burrows and are primarily nocturnal.

The Norwegian Rat

While not as large as the previous species mentioned, the Norwegian rat (Rattus norvegicus), also known as the brown rat or sewer rat, is still a sizable rodent.

It can grow up to 11 inches (28 cm) long, with a tail length of up to 9 inches (23 cm), and weigh up to 1.1 pounds (0.5 kg).

Norwegian rats are found worldwide and are often associated with urban environments.

They are omnivores and will eat almost anything, from garbage to stored food.

These rats are known to carry diseases and have been responsible for spreading the bubonic plague in medieval Europe.