Rat ID

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Lachlan
Lachlan's picture
Rat ID

I suppose this is the best place to put this, as it's not birdy...

I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me with IDing this rat. I don't have much (any) experience with IDing them, but would like to know what it is. 

For context, the animal lives in Sullie's Creek in Canberra. It's a stormwater drain, but down by the lake some effort has been made into turning it into decent habitat. The water stilllooks pretty gross though. 

Anyway, I've seen this mammal a number of times, always in the water. It seems to nose around the banks, and is usually fairly shy. I've seen something that looked similar up in the Molonglo Reach as well. 

I thought it might be an Australian Water Rat (Rakali), but considering that they're meant to be uncommon and Sullie's Creek is a bit polluted, I was wondering if it might be some sort of introduced  rat. But I wouldn't know how to ID them. 

Sorry about the bad photos, it was just after a storm went through, so not much light. Plus, I've cropped them a ton. Any help would be appreciated!

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

It will be a Water Rat, Lachlan.

I see them in Jerrabomberra creek often and have seen them in LBG, Molonglo and the Murrumbidgee river.

Also see them at Lake Eucumbene and Jindabyne.

I would say they are just not common to be seen due to their shy nature.

Roger Williams got a great shot of one on Jerrabomberra Creek.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rroger880/14683001166/in/photolist-onudGw-dpUyYH

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

GregL
GregL's picture

That's definitely a water rat, the white tip of the tail is the most obvious thing if you get a chance to see it, but no other rat will swim like that. I see them in my creek and dams sometimes, they aren't particularly rare. Australia only has 2 species of inland aquatic mammals. Water rats live mainly on yabbies, though they will eat other things such as turtles. Once they have exhausted they food in an area they move on somewhere else.

Lachlan
Lachlan's picture

Ok, great, thanks Shorty and GregL. I'm pretty sure it had a white tip to its tail too. Nice to know that they're moderately common; I never see many native mammals except for kangaroos. I guess maybe the creek isn't quite as polluted as I thought it was. 

zosterops
zosterops's picture

Nice find smiley

I even saw a Rakali in the Yarra River near Flinders Street Station in Melbourne CBD.. so i'd say they can frequent degraded waterways, presumably especially if they have little other option. 

GregL
GregL's picture

Water rats are lovely creatures, very entertaining to watch them play. They are like the Australian version of otters. You don't see native rodents very much in temperate Australia, I presume water rats persist because cats and foxes can't swim.

rawshorty
rawshorty's picture

GregL wrote:

cats and foxes can't swim.

But they can

Shorty......Canon gear

Canberra

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rawshorty/ 

darinnightowl
darinnightowl's picture

water rats and swamp rats  will always have a feeding table or dining table near by in a hollow log or under a bridge, stumps ,jetties on a rock shelf . A collection of small shells and crustaceans shells. Salt and fresh water. If I could only find that photo to show you Lachlan. 

See it!  Hear it!

Mid-North Coast NSW

Lachlan
Lachlan's picture

Sounds interesting. I'll have to have a look around and see if there's one nearby. 

If they frequent a 'table' to feed, I suppose it would present a better opportunity to photograph them the while in the water?

Lachlan
Lachlan's picture

Oops. Double post! 

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