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What is a water rat2007-11-24 22:17:32

A kid was hunting one done and I don't know what it is.

Answers:

Water rat:

The Water Rat (Hydromys chrysogaster), also known as the Native Water Rat or Rakali, is an Australian native rodent. The species lives in burrows on the banks of rivers, lakes and estuaries and feeds on aquatic insects, fish, crustaceans, mussels, snails, frogs, birds' eggs and water birds. Water Rats have a body 231-370 mm in length, weigh 340-1,275 g and have a thick tail measuring around 242-345 mm. They have webbed hind legs, waterproof fur, a flattened head, a long blunt nose, many whiskers and small ears and eyes. They are black to brown in colour with an orange to white belly.

The Australian Department of Environment and Heritage has recommended that the Water Rat's common name be changed to Rakali (an Indigenous Australian name), to avoid the negative connotations of "rat" and foster appreciation of the species as an Australian native animal. Both appellations are widespread.

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Rodentia

Family: Muridae

Genus: Hydromys

Species: H. chrysogaster

Hope i helped`

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Water Rat

Front teeth

One pair of distinctive chisel shaped incisors with hard yellow enamel on front surfaces.

Head

Flattened head, long blunt nose, with abundant whiskers, small eyes.

Ears