As its name implies, the giant pouched rat is a substantial rodent, weighing up to about 2.25 lbs. It lives in dark forests or areas of dense scrub, emerging from its burrow at night to forage for roots, tubers, fruit, and seeds. Some food is eaten where it is found, but much is taken back to the burrow in the rat's capacious cheek pouches. Giant pouched rats live singly, associating only briefly with others for mating, which occurs at all times of the year. Litters contain 2 or 3 young, born after a gestation of about 6 weeks.