The cane rat, also known as the greater cane rat or “grasscutter,” is basically a supersized rodent that looks like a guinea pig that hit the gym. Native to sub-Saharan Africa, this chunky herbivore can grow up to two feet long and weigh as much as 20 pounds. Yes, that is a serious rodent.

Speaking as a rat enjoyer myself, these guys take everything people love about rats and double it. Despite the name and the reputation of their smaller cousins, cane rats are not city sewer rats. They live in grasslands, wetlands, and farmland, where they munch on grasses, reeds, and crops, especially sugarcane.

Their distinctive long, orange front teeth have a pretty cool quirk. They never stop growing. That is why most rodents gnaw on almost anything they can get their teeth on. It is basically the rodent version of brushing your teeth. Instead of minty fluoride toothpaste and a tiny brush, it is chewing on a log.