How Big Is a Rat?
WouterYou may be wondering how big is a rat. While there are over 60 species of rats, the average size is about five inches (12 centimeters) long. The biggest species was discovered in the rainforest of Papua New Guinea in 2009 and is about the size of a cat, weighing in at about 3.3 pounds (1.5 kilograms). A slightly smaller species, known as the Osgood’s Vietnamese rat, weighs between five and seven inches (12 to 17 centimeters) long.
Rats are able to reproduce easily, conceiving between the fifth and eighth weeks. Female rats mate up to 500 times per year, giving birth to up to 2,000 young per year. Brown rats can have as many as 22 pups in one litter. Tropical rats, on the other hand, have only one to six babies at a time.
Another giant rat discovered in 2009 was the Bosavi woolly rat. This creature was discovered by a Smithsonian biologist. It measured 32 inches in length and weighed 3.5 pounds. The animal had a dense silver-gray coat and was unafraid of humans.
The adult House Mouse weighs approximately three and a half inches, while a Norway rat weighs up to nine inches. They are similar in appearance, with the exception of their large size and pointed nose. While their size is similar, rats tend to live longer and have a longer lifespan than mice. A rat’s tail is thicker and longer than a mouse’s.
