Muskrats

"muskrat, (Ondatra zibethicus), a large amphibious rodent indigenous to North America but found also in Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Siberia, adjacent areas of China and Mongolia, and Honshu Island in Japan. The muskrat is a robust vole weighing up to 1.8 kg (4 pounds). It has short legs and a compact body up to 33 cm (13 inches) long. The sparsely haired scaly tail is flattened vertically and can be as long as the body. The eyes are small, and the ears are nearly concealed by fur, which ranges in colour from reddish to blackish brown and consists of a short, soft underfur heavily overlaid with long, stiff, glossy guard hairs. The dense underfur traps air, providing both insulation and buoyancy. Muskrats’ large hind feet, fringed with stiff bristles and partially webbed, are used as oars when swimming, with the tail serving as a rudder. They can stay submerged for up to 20 minutes and swim as fast as 5 km (3.1 miles) per hour. The animal is named for the musky odour of a yellowish substance produced by its perineal glands. Secreted into the urine, the substance is used to mark lodges, pathways, and other landmarks throughout an individual’s home range."

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "muskrat". Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 Aug. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/animal/muskrat. Accessed 26 May 2022.

Species Information and Source

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