Muskrat

Ondatra zibethicus
Cricetids (Cricetidae)

CC-BY-SA 2.0 rights : Shanthanu Bhardwaj

Black brown water rat, the back and head are darker and the belly is lighter in colour. Small discreet ears, the tail is flattened towards the end and the rear feet have webbing.

They make burrows with entrances both below and above the water line or sometimes the nest is in a clump of water plants. They use clearly visible paths into the water like a slide. Feeding on water plants, and in winter roots as well as shellfish, often seen as a small pile of shells next to the water. 

⇔ hbl. 25-40 cm, tl. 19-28 cm

Originally from North America and seen as a threat to the dykes and therefore hunted, they are also used to keep water channels free of plants and are bred for fur and meat.

LA: 
≈ De ARVICOLA AMPHIBIUS (Water vole) is much smaller.
≈ De MYOCASTOR COYPUS (Coypu) is much bigger.

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