Muskrat

Muskrat
Muskrat swimming in Ottawa, Canada
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Tribe: Ondatrini
Genus: Ondatra
Link, 1795
Species:
O. zibethicus
Binomial name
Ondatra zibethicus
(Linnaeus, 1766)
Range of the Muskrat
  Native
  Introduced
Synonyms

Castor zibethicus Linnaeus, 1766

Ondatra zibethicus

The muskrat or common muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a rodent. They live in freshwater and saltwater marshes, lakes, ponds, and streams. Muskrats often build dome-shaped houses in marshes. These houses, made of plants, protect the muskrat from predators, since the only entrance is underwater. Some muskrats live in burrows on the water banks. Muskrats are excellent swimmers but are slow on land.

Muskrats are native to North America, but have been brought to Europe and Asia, where they now live in the wild. Muskrats got their name because they have musk glands that produce a strong scent.

Subspecies

Distribution of subspecies in North America.
  O. z. zibethicus
  O. z. albus
  O. z. aquilonius
  O. z. bernardi
  O. z. cinnamominus
  O. z. goldmani
  O. z. macrodon
  O. z. mergens
  O. z. obscurus
  O. z. occipitalis
  O. z. osoyoosensis
  O. z. pallidus
  O. z. ripensis
  O. z. rivalicus
  O. z. spatulatus
  O. z. zalophus

Ondatra zibethicus has 16 subspecies: O. z. albus, O. z. aquihnis, O. z. bemardi, O. z. cinnamominus, O. z. macrodom, O. z. mergens, O. z. obscurus, O. z. occipitalis, O. z. osoyoosensis, O. z. pallidus, O. z. ripensis, O. z. rivalicus, O. z. roidmani, O. z. spatulatus, O. z. zalaphus and O. z. zibethicus.


References

  1. 1 2 Cassola, F. (2016). "Ondatra zibethicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T15324A22344525. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T15324A22344525.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Identification of Invasive Alien Species using DNA barcodes" (PDF). Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences. Retrieved 23 January 2023.

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