Mammals · Rodentia · Cricetidae

Common Muskrat

Ondatra zibethicus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

Despite its name and appearance it is not closely related to the true rats but is the largest member of the vole and lemming subfamily. Its populations follow boom-and-bust cycles every 6 to 10 years.

Weight

600 g – 2 kg

Size

23 cm – 36 cm

Lifespan

1 years

Diet

Omnivore

Combines animal and plant food depending on availability.

Activity

Irregular activity

Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.

Social structure

Family group

Lives in small family groups with close bonds.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

FreshwaterOmnivore Variable activity Family group Freshwater Mammal

37countries 60parks 4dive sites9same family

Fun facts

fisiologíaIt can stay under for as long as 20 minutes by cutting blood flow to non-essential organs while it dives.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Swamps, marshes and freshwater wetlands of North America, widely introduced to Europe and Asia
Birth weight: Exact weight not found as a precise figure
Size at birth: Blind, hairless and wholly helpless at birth
Sexual maturity: 4-6 months (faster in southern populations, slower in the north)
Gestation / incubation: 28-30 days
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 12 young per litter (5-7 most often), with 2-3 litters a year
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 5.8-10 years in captivity

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; AnAge; Henry L. Ferguson Museum; Nevada Dept. of Wildlife; Mammal Age; Wikipedia; Animalia.bio; US Forest Service; Encyclopedia of Puget Sound