Discovered: The Biggest Rat That Ever Lived

[Ichingcarpenter]

Watch out Heathcliff, there's a rat out there bigger than you. Or at least there was. Just a couple thousand years ago, the world's largest rat, weighing more than the average house cat, scuttled about what is now East Timor of Southeast Asia.


The skeletal remains of the robust rodent were found in a cave, researchers announced today. When alive, the giant of the bunch weighed some 13.2 pounds (6 kilograms). For comparison, a house rat weighs on average 5 ounces (150 grams). Today's heftiest rats weigh around 4.4 pounds (2 kg) and live in rain forests in the Philippines and New Guinea.
Carbon dating suggests the animal lived up until 1,000 to 2,000 years ago, along with most of the other Timorese rodents found during the excavations.

http://www.livescience.com/animals/largest-rat-ever-discovered-100724.html

Picture of the Giant Rat.

[xchrom]

1. Ew! Nt

[aquart]

2. They have rats bigger than cats on LI beaches. I saw them.

Are you sure they're not talking about mice?

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. How big is the largest rat?

The largest rats in the world are the African giant pouched rats. In general, they have a mass of 1 to 1.47 kg (2.2 to 3.23 lbs), and grow to a length of 65 to 91 cm (25.39 to 35.83 in).

Most people are familiar with Norway rats; they generally weigh between 10 and 18 ounces and can grow up to 18 inches (a 2-ft. Norway rat, or domestic rat, would be a monster!). The biggest Norway rat ever caught in a city -- or at least the biggest on record -- was a 2.4 pound giant, caught by Brian Plummer in London.

Read more: How big is the largest rat? | Answerbag http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/9508#ixzz0ugmUqtVH


I've seen some big ones myself in Texas.

[n2doc]

10. The one in New Guinea is just as big

[dropkickpa]

13. I want one of those sooooo bad!

I LOVE rats, even have them tattooed on me! And those guys are just so damn cute!

[aquart]

12. I've seen ordinary New York rats. I saw a rat prom once.

But those rats on the beach were as big as very well fed raccoons.

[baldguy]

4. Rodents Of Unusual Size?

[Uben]

5. Rats wear glasses?

Ugly bastard, too!

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. That one didn't heed his mother's warning.

[mwb970]

6. Imagine finding that thing scuttling around your garbage can!

I'd shoot it in the face and wait for an apology.

[Historic NY]

8. I remind you rats are an excellent source of protein...culinary possibilities....

for real "ratta touie".

[Bitwit1234]

9. Now this giant rat has competion

could we get Rove to weigh in. He might be a little heavier.

[IndianaGreen]

11. 13 pounds? My Pekinese weights 13 pounds.

I would like to know who was the predator that hunted that size rat.