 |
|
Ondatra zibethicus
Physical Characteristics
"Identification: Head and body 10 - 14 in. (25 - 36 cm); tail 8 -
11 in. (20 - 28 cm); wt. 2 - 4 lb. (908 - 1816 g). Fur dense, rich brown, overlaid with
coarse guard hair; belly silvery; tail long, naked, scaly, and black; flattened from side
to side. Character of tail alone is sufficient to distinguish the Muskrat from all other
mammals. Their presence in marshes may be detected by the conical houses, 2 - 3 ft. (61 -
91 cm) above water, which are built of marsh vegetation. Skull...has 16 teeth. There are 6
mammae."(1)
Habitat
"Marshes, edges of ponds, lakes, and streams; cattails, rushes,
water lillies, open water."(1)
Diet
"Feeds on aquatic vegetation, also clams, frogs, and fish on
occasion."(1)
Reproductive Characteristics
"Breeds April - Aug. in North, in winter in South.
Young: Usually 5 - 6 (1 - 11); gestation period 22 - 30 days; 2 - 3 litters a year. Naked,
blind."(1)
Etc.
"Chiefly aquatic; moves overland, especially in autumn....Builds
house in shallow water; also burrows in banks; entrances usually underwater; 1 family to
each house....
Economic status: One of our most valuable fur animals; may cause some damage to dikes by
burrowing."(1)
Muskrat Link
Check out this Home Page -- everything you want to know about Muskrats -
contains to other "Muskrat" sites. http://www.net-link.net/~vaneselk/muskrat/
Literature Cited
- Burt, W.H., R.P. Grossenheider. 1976. The Peterson Field Guide Series: A Field Guide to the Mammals. Peterson, R.A. (Ed.). Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, pgs. 193-194.
- Hoffmeister, D.F. 1986. Mammals of Arizona. University of Arizona Press, Tucson
- Findley, J.S. 1987. The Natural History of New Mexican Mammals. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque
- Findley, J. S., A. H. Harris, D. E. Wilson, and C. Jones. 1975. Mammals of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque,
bmuskrat (at) gmail.com