How big does a Muskrat get? Here is an overview over the average adult age:
A grown Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) reaches an average size of 27.7 cm (0′ 11″).
When born, they have an average size of 0 cm (0′ 0″). During their lifetime of about 10 years, they grow from 22 grams (0.05 lbs) to 992 grams (2.19 lbs). Talking about reproduction, Muskrats have 6 babies about 2 times per year. The Muskrat (genus: Ondatra) is a member of the family Muridae.
As a reference: Humans reach an average body size of 1.65m (5′ 5″) while carrying 62 kg (137 lbs). A human woman is pregnant for 280 days (40 weeks) and on average become 75 years old.
The muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), the only species in genus Ondatra and tribe ondatrini, is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent native to North America and an introduced species in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. The muskrat is found in wetlands over a wide range of climates and habitats. It has important effects on the ecology of wetlands, and is a resource of food and fur for humans.The muskrat is the largest species in the subfamily Arvicolinae, which includes 142 other species of rodents, mostly voles and lemmings. Muskrats are referred to as “rats” in a general sense because they are medium-sized rodents with an adaptable lifestyle and an omnivorous diet. They are not, however, members of the genus Rattus.
Animals of the same family as a Muskrat
We found other animals of the Muridae family:
- Dormouse tufted-tailed rat with a size of 12.7 cm (0′ 5″)
- Ghana rufous-nosed rat with a weight of 85 grams
- Thespian grass mouse with a weight of 24 grams
- Greater tree mouse with a size of 14.4 cm (0′ 6″)
- Northern mole vole with 3 babies per litter
- Gerbil leaf-eared mouse with a weight of 17 grams
- Palawan spiny rat with a size of 16.7 cm (0′ 7″)
- Northern Luzon giant cloud rat with a size of 38.2 cm (1′ 4″)
- Emin’s pouched rat bringing 1.28 kilos (2.82 lbs) to the scale
- Highland brush mouse with a size of 12.7 cm (0′ 5″)
Animals with the same size as a Muskrat
Not that size really matters, but it makes things comparable. So here are a couple of animals that are as big as Muskrat:
- Hamlyn’s monkey with a size of 28 cm (1′ 0″)
- Broad-striped Malagasy mongoose with a size of 31.9 cm (1′ 1″)
- Eastern gray squirrel with a size of 25.4 cm (0′ 10″)
- Hispaniolan hutia with a size of 30 cm (1′ 0″)
- Fat-tailed dwarf lemur with a size of 22.5 cm (0′ 9″)
- Eastern small-toothed rat with a size of 24.2 cm (0′ 10″)
- Long-tailed chinchilla with a size of 30.5 cm (1′ 1″)
- Central American squirrel monkey with a size of 28.2 cm (1′ 0″)
- Mountain cottontail with a size of 32.4 cm (1′ 1″)
- Eastern spotted skunk with a size of 30 cm (1′ 0″)
Animals with the same litter size as a Muskrat
Here is a list of animals that have the same number of babies per litter (6) as a Muskrat:
- Round-tailed ground squirrel
- Mindoro black rat
- White-eared opossum
- Eurasian pygmy shrew
- Brown antechinus
- Little red kaluta
- Uinta chipmunk
- New Guinean quoll
- Northern quoll
- Desert dormouse
Animals with the same life expectancy as a Muskrat
Completely different animals, but becoming as old as a Muskrat:
- Bengal fox with an average maximal age of 10 years
- San Diego pocket mouse with an average maximal age of 8.25 years
- Greater fairy armadillo with an average maximal age of 12 years
- Weasel sportive lemur with an average maximal age of 12 years
- Malayan civet with an average maximal age of 12 years
- Snowshoe hare with an average maximal age of 8 years
- Blue duiker with an average maximal age of 12 years
- Yellow-bellied marmot with an average maximal age of 8 years
- Waterhouse’s leaf-nosed bat with an average maximal age of 10.42 years
- Leadbeater’s possum with an average maximal age of 11 years
Animals with the same weight as a Muskrat
As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Ondatra zibethicus:
- Llanos long-nosed armadillo with a weight of 1.15 kilos (2.54 lbs)
- David’s echymipera bringing 817 grams to the scale
- Mexican prairie dog bringing 900 grams to the scale
- Western quoll with a weight of 1.12 kilos (2.47 lbs)
- Hooded skunk with a weight of 1.1 kilos (2.43 lbs)
- Milne-Edwards’ sportive lemur bringing 822 grams to the scale
- Poncelet’s giant rat with a weight of 1 kilos (2.2 lbs)
- North African hedgehog bringing 931 grams to the scale
- White-tailed prairie dog bringing 964 grams to the scale
- Screaming hairy armadillo bringing 930 grams to the scale