Description ²

Muskrats have large bodies, with a total body length of 12.5 inches. The tail is flat and scaly and is 9.5 inches in length. Muskrats have dense fur that traps air underneath for insulation and buoyancy. Their heads are very large and their ears are almost invisible underneath the fur. Muskrats have short legs and big feet; their rear feet are webbed for swimming.

Habitat ³

Muskrats are semi-aquatic and prefer locations with four to six feet of water. Muskrats are found in ponds, lakes, and swamps, but their favorite locations are marshes, where the water level stays constant. Muskrats find shelter in bank burrows and nests that they build.

Conservation status ⁴

Secure

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Vitaliy Khustochka, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://www.flickr.com/photos/phenolog/4159982548/
2. Adapted by okaloosascience from a work by (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/25066093
3. Adapted by okaloosascience from a work by (c) The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/25066092
4. Adapted by okaloosascience from a work by (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28860266

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• ASM Mammal Diversity Database
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• CalPhotos
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• iNaturalist Mammal Working Group
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• VertNet
• 日本のレッドデータ検索システム

Range Map

(c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC)

iNat Map