Rats are one of the largest species of rodents on our planet. Most species do not exceed a body length of more than 15-20 cm. But there are also rodents that can reach quite impressive sizes in length. Some of them are spread all over the world (Pasyuk), others are on the verge of extinction (Kangaroo rats), others have been relatively recently discovered by researchers (Papuan rats).
The rating contains the largest rats in the world.
10. The Black Rat | 28 centimeters
Black rat - one of the smallest rats in the world. With a body length of 22 centimeters, its tail can reach a length of 28 cm. It is a heat-loving species that chooses forests and bushes overgrowing as its habitat. In addition, rodents can often be found on ships. This species does not dig holes, but settles in the wild on trees, where it builds nests. This is a very common species that has spread throughout the globe, excluding the northern part. The rat eats seeds and fruits of trees.
9. Turkestan rat | 21 centimeter
Turkestan rat It is medium in size. The body of a rodent can reach 25 centimeters, the tail - 21 cm, but most often it is equal to the length of the body. Outwardly, it looks like a pasuk, but much smaller than it. The animal chooses forest and mountain territories as its habitat. The animal loves to feast on the fruits of walnuts, apricot kernels and shell. In the winter season, most of the population moves to human housing. The species is widespread in the foothills of Central Asia.
8. Standard | 30 centimeters
Standard - the most common type of decorative rat in the world. The body length of the animal can reach 30 centimeters, the tail length is 20 cm. This breed is the ancestor of all existing types of decorative rats. The animal has an elongated, massive body, proportional to the length of its paws and short, smooth coat. Domestic rats are clean and carefully look after themselves. In food, animals are picky, eat vegetables, grains, fruits and even meat products.
7. Musky Kangaroo | 35 centimeters
Musky kangaroo (Tsepkonog) externally resembles an ordinary rat. All limbs of the chain leg are proportional and have weak, small claws. The maximum body size of a musky kangaroo can reach 35 centimeters with a tail length of 12 cm. Tsepkonogi prefer to live in dense thickets near water bodies. The smell of musk peculiar to animals became the reason for the name of the species - musky kangaroo. Females have a hatching bag where they carry their cubs for several months. The animal can nimbly move on the surface of the earth, and climb trees. As food, they choose insects, worms, but can eat berries and root crops.
6. Gray big rat | 40 centimeters
Gray big rat (Pasyuk) - the largest species widespread in Russia. The body of the pasuk can reach a size of 40 centimeters, and the length of the tail is 20 cm. In nature, these rats live near ponds. In the winter, they prefer to be housed in human buildings. For arrangement in natural conditions, rodents dig holes to a meter in depth and 5 meters in length. Pasyukas are omnivores, and also prefer food of animal origin.
5. Potoru | 41 centimeter
Potoru belongs to the genus of marsupial family Kangaroo rats. This is a rather large rodent, its body length can reach 41 centimeters, and the tail - 32 cm. The hind legs are developed more and longer than the front. Potor moves in jumps, on its hind legs alternately, like a jerboa. Like all marsupials, the female has a well-developed hatcher where the cub is located, after being born for 4 months, the main habitat of the sweat are bushes, undergrowths, or even steppes. As a rule, animals lead a nocturnal lifestyle. In the afternoon, they prefer to take refuge in constructed holes. Sweat feed on plants, mushrooms, as well as insects.
4. The bamboo rat | 48 centimeters
Bamboo rats belong to the species of burrowing rodents and are the largest in the family of mole rats. Bamboo rats can grow up to 48 centimeters in the body and have a tail length of 15 cm. In particular, they lead an underground lifestyle. The animals have small eyes and small ears. They have very large teeth and strong claws, which they need to dig burrows. Rodents choose bamboo thickets as their habitat. Their main food is bamboo roots, stems, seeds and other plant fruits. This species, as a rule, is common in Asian countries: China, Thailand, etc.
3. Big rat kangaroo | 55 centimeters
Big rat kangaroo belongs to the marsupial mammal family. The body length of the animal can reach 55 centimeters, and the tail length is 40 cm. The rodent resembles a kangaroo: its hind legs are larger and significantly longer than its front. He moves in leaps, but can move on all four legs. This species has 34 teeth; fangs are very well developed. The rat kangaroo has a well-developed brood bag where the development of the cub embryo takes place. Animals live in grass nests that they build themselves, or in rabbit holes. They feed on vegetation, mushrooms and root crops. They lead an active nightlife. The species of kangaroo rats is rare, particularly common in Australia.
2. Reed rat | 61 centimeter
Reed rat - one of the largest in the world. The animal belongs to the genus of African rodents. The body length of a cane rat can be 61 centimeters, and the tail 26 cm. Massive rodents with a body weight of up to 9 kilograms are outwardly similar to nutria. Strong, short limbs have thick and well-developed claws. The head of the animal is quite large, with small eyes and rounded ears. Reed rat hair is bristle-like and stiff, growing in bunches. The rodent selects wetlands next to reed beds as its habitat. Burrows animals build in coastal vegetation, where they are located almost throughout the day. These are excellent swimmers who take refuge in ponds in case of danger. The main delicacies of this type of rat are cereals, sugarcane, pineapples, cassava. Often, African people prey on rat reeds and eat them.
1. Papuan rat | 1 meter
Papuan rats - One of the largest rodents known to science. They live on the island of Papua (New Guinea). The body length of the giants can reach 1 meter, the tail - 30 cm. Outwardly, a large rodent resembles an ordinary pasuk, the difference is only in size. Papuan rats live in the mountains, in the vent of extinct volcanoes. Thanks to the thick fur, animals can survive even in the most severe climatic conditions.