Description ²

Unlike the muskrat, the Round-tailed muskrat has a tail that is truly round in cross-section, not flattened on the sides. It is also smaller than the muskrat, with a total body length of 381 - 546 mm (15 - 21.5 inches).The outer fur (coarse guard hairs) is dark brown and glossy, while the dense undercoat is brown becoming gray at the base.The belly is a pale buff color.

Habitat ³

Wet moist areas on mainland and islands. In particular, brackish waters of river deltas and swamps, as well near freshwater bogs, marshes, and around lakes with sandy bottoms and lots of aquatic vegetation.

Conservation status ⁴

The round-tailed muskrat is listed as a threatened species in the state of Georgia. It cannot be trapped or hunted.

US Federal List: threatened

Sources and Credits

1. Wikimedia Commons, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Round-tailed_Muskrat_Neofiber_alleni.png
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/31409418
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/31409417
4. 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/31409424

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• ASM Mammal Diversity Database
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• iNaturalist Mammal Working Group
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• VertNet

Range Map

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