18. Josephoartigasia Monesi : The Enormous Mega Rat
When we think of rats, we often associate them with New York City’s notorious rodent problem. However, the ancient cousin of New York rats, Josephoartigasia monesi, takes rodent size to a whole new level. Living between four to two million years ago in South America, these colossal rodents measured up to 10 feet long and weighed a staggering 2,200 pounds.
That’s around the same weight as twelve adult humans! With their horrifying incisors, which reached almost a foot long, these mega rats were equipped to bite through nuts, wood, and defend themselves from predators. While they were not carnivorous, their size and massive incisors would have made short work of anything that threatened them.
