List of largest rodents

This is a list of the largest rodents.

Rank Common name Scientific name Status Maximum body mass
[kg (lb)]
Image Notes
1Josephoartigasia monesiFossil1,250 kg (2,760 lb)[1]
2Phoberomys pattersoniFossil550–700 kg (1,210–1,540 lb)[2]
3Greater capybaraHydrochoerus hydrochaerisExtant91.2 kg (201 lb)[3]
4North American beaverCastor canadensisExtant50 kg (110 lb)[4]
5Lesser capybaraHydrochoerus isthmiusExtant28 kg (62 lb)[5]
6Eurasian beaverCastor fiberExtant30 kg (66 lb)[6]
7Cape porcupineHystrix africaeaustralis Extant30 kg (66 lb)[7]
8Crested porcupineHystrix cristata Extant27 kg (60 lb)[8]
9North American porcupineErethizon dorsatumExtant18 kg (40 lb)[9]
10Indian crested porcupineHystrix indicaExtant18 kg (40 lb)[10]
11CoypuMyocastor coypusExtant17 kg (37 lb)[11]
12Patagonian maraDolichotis patagonumExtant16 kg (35 lb)[12]
13PacaranaDinomys branickiiExtant15 kg (33 lb)[13]
14PacaCuniculus pacaExtant6–14 kg (13–31 lb)[14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Josephoartigasia monesi at Fossilworks.org
  2. ↑ Phoberomys pattersoni at Fossilworks.org
  3. ↑ Mones, Alvaro; Ojasti, Juhani (16 June 1986). "Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Brisson 1762". Mammalian Species (264): 1–7. doi:10.2307/3503784. JSTOR 3503784. S2CID 250991487.
  4. ↑ "North American Beaver". March 18, 2025. Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Capybara | Description, Behavior, & Facts". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2025-10-21.
  6. ↑ "Eurasian beaver guide: how to identify, why they became extinct in the UK, and where they've been reintroduced". Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Cape Porcupine". Retrieved October 20, 2025.
  8. ↑ McPhee, M. Elsbeth (2003). "Hystrix Cristata".
  9. ↑ "North American Porcupine".
  10. ↑ Schlimme, Kurt (2000). "Hystrix Indica".
  11. ↑ D'Elia, Guillermo (1999). "Myocastor Coypus".
  12. ↑ Mascow, Molly (2011). "Dolichotis Patagonum".
  13. ↑ Nguyen, Khoa Huu (2001). "Dinomys Branickii".
  14. ↑ MacDonald, Gordon (2013). "Cuniculus Paca".