muskrat
Also known as Ondatra zibethicus, musquash, beaver-rat, swamp rat
The muskrat or common muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent.
AI overview
The muskrat is a medium-sized rodent that lives in and around water, found across North America and introduced to other parts of the world. It plays a role in wetland ecosystems and has historically been trapped for its fur, making it economically significant to some communities.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
Least ConcernSpecies
- PhylumChordata
- ClassMammalia
- OrderRodentia
- FamilyCricetidae
Habitatfreshwater
麝鼠的巢穴，馬里蘭州帕塔森特河中游的沼澤 麝鼠（學名：Ondatra zibethicus）是麝鼠屬中的唯一成員，是北美洲本土較大的水棲齧齒目動物，並傳入歐洲的一些部分。牠們在中大西洋被稱為「沼澤松鼠」。成年的麝鼠通常長約25-40厘米，並有一條約20-25厘米長的強壯尾巴。牠們的身軀被一層厚、棕色而防水的毛皮蓋著；這毛皮的下半部分的顏色較淡。牠們住在新澤西州、馬里蘭州及維吉尼亞州微鹹的水中。牠們的後腿部分有蹼，並一對像人手的小前腿。牠們的重量可達1700公克，大約是一隻溝鼠的四倍重。
via IUCN
~13 min read
Article
11 sectionsContents
- Description
- Behavior
- Subspecies
- Etymology
- Distribution and ecology
- Decline in the United States
- Invasiveness
- Uses
- In culture
- References
- External links
The muskrat or common muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent.
Adult muskrats weigh , with a body length (excluding the tail) of . They are covered with short, thick fur of medium to dark brown color. Their long tails, covered with scales rather than hair, are laterally compressed and generate a small amount of thrust, with their webbed hind feet being the main means of propulsion and the unique tail mainly important in directional stability. Muskrats spend most of their time in the water and can swim underwater for 12 to 17 minutes. They live in families of a male and female pair and their young. They build nests to protect themselves from the cold and predators, often burrowed into the bank with an underwater entrance. Muskrats feed mostly on cattail and other aquatic vegetation but also eat small animals.