European Water Vole
Arvicola amphibius
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 895
- Most observed in
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The European water vole (Arvicola amphibius) or northern water vole is a semi-aquatic rodent. It is often informally called the water rat, though it only superficially resembles a true rat. Water voles have rounder noses than rats, deep brown fur, chubby faces, and short fuzzy ears; unlike rats, their tails, paws, and ears are covered with hair. In the wild, on average, water voles only live about five months. Maximum longevity in captivity is two and a half years.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “European water vole”.