How Much Does a Large Rat Weight?
WouterIf you’re curious about how much a large rat weigh, consider that the capybara is the world’s largest rodent, weighing as much as most male humans. But there was once another giant rodent in existence, the Josephoartegasia monesi, which weighed more than a ton. These creatures evolved to grow as their habitats became more barren. As a result, they grew into larger, and more massive, animals. They eventually evolved to become horses, mammoths, and rhinoceri.
The world’s largest rat is not yet determined, but there are some contenders for the title. A rat’s weight depends on a number of factors, including its environment. In some areas, food is abundant, and an adult rat can grow much bigger than the average house cat. Rat teeth also never stop growing, so the rat’s weight depends on its environment and how much food it can eat.
The giant Timorese rat weighed 13.2 pounds (6 kilograms) when it was alive. But nowadays, the heaviest rats in the world weigh only 4.4 pounds (2 kilograms). They live in rain forests in the Philippines and New Guinea. Although these animals are no longer common, a recent study shows that humans have a significant impact on their extinction by destroying their habitats.
Rats are larger than mice and their tails are nearly as long as their bodies. Rats come in both wild and domesticated species. Generally, male rats are larger than females, and they are much heavier than females. They can be as large as four pounds, but the size of the rat depends on the species and environment it lives in.
