# "Ratzilla" caught in Stockholm family home -- giant 16" rat **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 28, 2014, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757 "2014-03-28T13:09:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/21 "2014-03-29T00:41:12Z")
Rats the size of cats? Were they sucked on by fleas the size of rats? ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/22 "2014-03-29T02:21:22Z")
I do not believe they exist. ---
**Author:** ![Octarine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/22d042/32.png) [@Octarine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Octarine)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/23 "2014-03-29T13:08:21Z")
I like how the article shoves in the “rats could grow as big as sheep” factoid at the very end; a little more time spent on that would be nice, thanks . . . ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/24 "2014-03-29T13:13:20Z")
> [@Octarine](#): > > I like how the article shoves in the “rats could grow as big as sheep” factoid at the very end; a little more time spent on that would be nice, thanks . . . And why stop at sheep? Rats the size of ponies! ---
**Author:** ![StJoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@StJoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StJoan)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/25 "2014-03-29T16:55:56Z")
I must be the only one who feels sad for the poor rat. He is big, but quite cute. Quite magnificient, in fact. Not his fault that humans are always at war with his kind. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/26 "2014-03-29T17:31:25Z")
A recording paying outside the freak show at the Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival, early-1980s: _SEE the giant KILLER RAT! Three foot long KILLER RAT! Its jaws are so powerful, it can TAKE YOUR HAND OFF IN A SINGLE BITE! RAT! RAT!_ (In actuality, it was a capybara – a herbivorous ‘river rat’.) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/27 "2014-03-29T17:49:05Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Norway rats don’t get that big, my first thought is that it must be one of those African pouched rats that have been making their way into the pet trade. > [@nevadaexile](#): > > I agree. > > It looks to be some type of pouched rat or perhaps a hybrid. It looks like an exceptionally large Norway Rat _Rattus norvegicus_ to me. While a weight of 1 kg would be extreme, it is at the upper range known for the species. Other reports of giant rats in other places have in fact turned out to be [African Pouched Rats](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambian_pouched_rat), but this one definitely is not. Pouched Rats have much larger ears and sleeker fur. They also typically have two-toned tails, with the outer part whitish. A hybrid with Norway Rat is very unlikely, since Pouched Rats are only distantly related to \*Rattus \* rats. > [@nevadaexile](#): > > Quote: > However, scientists do believe they (rats) could eventually grow into the size of sheep, Dr Jan Zalasiewicz, of the University of Leicester in the UK, recently told the BBC. > > There already are “rats” that size. > They are called capybaras and they live in South America. > > [Capybara - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara) Although Capybaras are rodents, I wouldn’t call them rats. They are in a completely different part of the order from true rats. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/28 "2014-03-29T17:54:50Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > And why stop at sheep? Rats the size of ponies! Or bulls. The largest known rodent, [_Josephartiogasia monesi_,](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m46sqjBXR91rrpn3bo1_400.jpg) may have been [10 feet long and weighed a ton.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josephoartigasia_monesi) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/29 "2014-03-29T18:03:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Although Capybaras are rodents, I wouldn’t call them rats. They are in a completely different part of the order from true rats. Colloquially, they are sometimes called ‘river rats’; regardless of their taxonomy. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/30 "2014-03-29T18:58:46Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Colloquially, they are sometimes called ‘river rats’; regardless of their taxonomy. Where are capybaras called river rats (besides state fairs)? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/31 "2014-03-29T20:05:43Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > I agree. > > It looks to be some type of pouched rat or perhaps a hybrid. A rat that large would be vulnerable to stray dogs, as well as raccoons,larger birds of prey and other wild life. There aren’t many evolutionary advantages to being large. Are there many raccoons in Sweden to prey on them? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/32 "2014-03-29T20:19:56Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Are there many raccoons in Sweden to prey on them? Raccoons have been [introduced to Europe and Japan,](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Raccoon-range.png) but as far as I know haven’t spread to Sweden yet. Contrary to **nevadexile’s** speculation, with respect to predation there is considerable evolutionary benefit to being large. Within limits, the larger you are the fewer predators are big enough to eat you. The main disadvantage in getting large is finding enough food. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/33 "2014-03-29T20:27:35Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Raccoons have been [introduced to Europe and Japan,](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Raccoon-range.png) but as far as I know haven’t spread to Sweden yet. You never know. > [@Colibri](#): > > Contrary to **nevadexile’s** speculation, with respect to predation there is considerable evolutionary benefit to being large. Within limits, the larger you are the fewer predators are big enough to eat you. The main disadvantage in getting large is finding enough food. The animals which would predate commonly upon rats would probably not concern themselves with its size as they would kill a large rat in the same manner that they would kill a smaller one: Seizing it behind or by its throat and crushing its neck vertebrae or suffocating it. A larger rat would move slower than a smaller one and thus would be more vulnerable to attack. ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/34 "2014-03-29T20:31:59Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > It looks like an exceptionally large Norway Rat _Rattus norvegicus_ to me. While a weight of 1 kg would be extreme, it is at the upper range known for the species. > > Other reports of giant rats in other places have in fact turned out to be [African Pouched Rats](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambian_pouched_rat), but this one definitely is not. Pouched Rats have much larger ears and sleeker fur. They also typically have two-toned tails, with the outer part whitish. A hybrid with Norway Rat is very unlikely, since Pouched Rats are only distantly related to \*Rattus \* rats. I’d reserve judgment until the autopsy.😉 > [@Colibri](#): > > Quote: > > Originally Posted by nevadaexile View Post > Quote: > However, scientists do believe they (rats) could eventually grow into the size of sheep, Dr Jan Zalasiewicz, of the University of Leicester in the UK, recently told the BBC. > > There already are “rats” that size. > They are called capybaras and they live in South America. > > [Capybara - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara) > > Although Capybaras are rodents, I wouldn’t call them rats. They are in a completely different part of the order from true rats. That’s why I put it in “quotes.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/35 "2014-03-29T20:38:42Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > Big for a rat maybe but those pics are forced perspective. > > ETA, link: [Forced perspective - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_perspective) > . Not really. The second photo might be somewhat more difficult to scale in your mind, but with the first, I actually would have guessed a little smaller (around 14") based on the picture but it turns out it’s 16". There’s nothing extreme about the angle that would make forced perspective something to consider too deeply. And they both have a mouse/rat trap in the photo to help you scale, so that gives you a clue as to what you’re looking at (assuming you have a reasonable idea of what size mouse/rat traps are.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/36 "2014-03-29T20:45:13Z")
My first thought was that it was actually a possum that got into the country somehow, but no, that’s definitely not a possum’s head. And it was actually trapped and properly measured, so we’re not just dealing with the eek effect that tends to inflate the size of rodents, snakes, and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/37 "2014-03-29T20:53:26Z")
Ratzilla, or as he’s called in NYC, Junior. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/38 "2014-03-29T21:06:32Z")
> [@nevadaexile](#): > > The animals which would predate commonly upon rats would probably not concern themselves with its size as they would kill a large rat in the same manner that they would kill a smaller one: Seizing it behind or by its throat and crushing its neck vertebrae or suffocating it. Which animals are those, exactly?:dubious: The animals that prey on rats, as I said, would be concerned about size regardless of their method of preying on them. The larger the animal the harder it’s going to be to kill and (if necessary) carry off. The larger the animal the fewer predators it would have. > [@](#): > > A larger rat would move slower than a smaller one and thus would be more vulnerable to attack. Cite? This isn’t necessarily so. Larger animals may move faster in absolute terms than smaller ones. > [@](#): > > I’d reserve judgment until the autopsy.😉 No need for an autopsy. The photo is good enough to rule out an African Giant Rat, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/39 "2014-03-29T22:45:08Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Where are capybaras called river rats (besides state fairs)? Local fair. I probably heard it on a documentary in the '70s or '80s. Also: [http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/Life\_on\_the\_Rodent\_127481573.html](http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/Life_on_the_Rodent_127481573.html) > [@](#): > > Rufus is a South American river rat called a capybara, the world’s largest rodent. [http://angrybearblog.com/2007/01/giant-south-american-river-rats.html](http://angrybearblog.com/2007/01/giant-south-american-river-rats.html) > [@](#): > > Here’s the Smithsonian’s page on the “Capybara” – a South American river rat that looks kinda like a cross between small horse and a giant mutant hamster. > **[Quizzes | Free Online Quizzes | PCHquizzes](https://www.pch.com/quizzes)** > > PCH offers fun quizzes on a wide range of topics. Animals, history, traveling and more. Test your knowledge and play our quizzes today! > [@](#): > > It is a south american river rat, Note that I’m not disputing it’s not a rat. It isn’t. But some people call them that. (I call them ‘capybaras’.) . ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757/40 "2014-03-30T00:05:43Z")
> [@StJoan](#): > > I must be the only one who feels sad for the poor rat. You’re not. ☹ Poor little guy. Well…big guy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ratzilla-caught-in-stockholm-family-home-giant-16-rat/684757.md?page=3)