What is the difference between a muskrat and a rat

The nutria Myocastor coypus is a large, dark-colored, semiaquatic rodent that is native to southern South America. At first glance, a casual observer may misidentify a nutria as either a beaver Castor canadensis or a muskrat Ondatra zibethicus , especially when it is swimming.

This superficial resemblance ends when a more detailed study of the animal is made. Other names used for the nutria include coypu, nutria-rat, South American beaver, Argentine beaver, and swamp beaver. Nutria are members of the family Myocastoridae. They have short legs and a robust, highly arched body that is approximately 24 inches 61 cm long. Their round tail is from 13 to 16 inches 33 to 41 cm long and scantily haired.

Males are slightly larger than females; the average weight for each is about 12 pounds 5. Males and females may grow to 20 pounds 9. The dense grayish underfur is overlaid by long, glossy guard hairs that vary in color from dark brown to yellowish brown. The forepaws have four well-developed and clawed toes and one vestigial toe.

Four of the five clawed toes on the hind foot are interconnected by webbing; the fifth outer toe is free. Muskrats have thicker tails than rats and can survive longer underwater. Muskrats look more like their relatives the beaver with their thick coat of fur and stocky appearance.

Rat Behavior. Rat Borne Diseases. Rat Diet. Rat Fleas. Rat Habitat. Rat Hole. Rat Identification. Rat Infestation. Rat Sense of Smell. Rat Tracks. Rat Varieties. Enemies and Predators of Rats. For shelter, muskrats will either dig tunnels or construct lodges, depending on the immediate habitat.

In areas with steep banks or dams, muskrats will dig tunnels that begin underwater and lead up above the water level, where the chamber can remain dry. In other areas without steep walls or dams, muskrats build dome-shaped lodges out of nearby vegetation and mud. Muskrats are omnivores, but they mainly enjoy a plant-based diet consisting of the roots, stems, leaves and fruits of aquatic vegetation. As local plant food becomes scarce, muskrats will feed on small aquatic animals such as insects, fish and amphibians.