One of the 11 rats on WAnimals
Mammals · Rodentia · Cricetidae
Southern Water Vole
Arvicola sapidus
It faces a high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term. See full glossary
The southern water vole is a semi-aquatic rodent endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and France. It digs tunnels in the banks and feeds almost entirely on plants: rushes, grasses and roots. It swims and dives well and, when surprised, throws itself into the water with a characteristic plop. Its populations are in sharp decline across its whole range because of the canalisation of rivers and irrigation channels, the loss of riverside vegetation and predation by the introduced American mink.
Weight
150 g – 280 g
Size
17 cm – 24 cm
Lifespan
3 years
Diet
Herbivore
Feeds mainly on plants.
Activity
Irregular activity
Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
Sighting difficulty
Moderate
Fun facts
- GeneralIt digs burrows into the banks and swims well; it is in decline as riverside habitat is lost.
- It is endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and France and is in sharp decline throughout its range: it is one of the Spanish mammals whose position has worsened fastest in recent decades, and yet it goes almost unnoticed.
- Its disappearance has been linked directly to the spread of the American mink escaped from fur farms, which preys on it efficiently along stretches where it used to be abundant.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
- Habitat & environment
- River banks, irrigation ditches and vegetated wetlands
- Sexual maturity
- 3 months
- Gestation / incubation
- 21 days
- Litter / clutch size
- 4
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arvicola_sapidus
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapWhere to watch it
Parques y spots de buceo donde se ha documentado esta especie — se muestran 10 de 140 documentados.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Southern Water Vole — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Common Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus
Least ConcernNorway Lemming
Lemmus lemmus
Common Vole
Microtus arvalis
Common Hamster
Cricetus cricetus
Chinese Water Deer
Hydropotes inermis
VulnerableReindeer
Rangifer tarandus
How to help
The southern water vole is classified as vulnerable. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 10 real protected areas — part of why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about southern water vole.
Comments
Share an experience, a fun fact or a tip for seeing the southern water vole.
Be the first to comment.