The Malagasy giant rat (Hypogeomys antimena), also known as the votsotsa or votsovotsa, is a nesomyid rodent found only in the Menabe region of Madagascar.

[2] It is an endangered species due to habitat loss, slow reproduction, and limited range (200 square kilometres north of Morondava, between the rivers Tomitsy and Tsiribihina) [3] Pairs are monogamous and females bear only one or two young per year.

Young males stay with the family unit for one year before achieving sexual maturity and leaving to find their own burrow.

Completely nocturnal, the giant rats live in burrows up to 5 m (16 ft) across with as many as six entrances which, even those in regular use, are kept blocked by dirt and leaves to discourage predation by the Malagasy ground boa.

[6] The other main traditional predatory threat is the puma-like fossa but increasingly feral dogs and cats introduced to the island are hunting them as well.

When foraging, the rats move on all fours, searching the forest floor for fallen fruit, nuts, seeds, and leaves.

Limited range, habitat destruction, increased predation by non-native feral dogs and cats, and disease have all led to the decline.