muskrat
(Ondatra zibethicus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
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Size |
Total length: 18″ to 25″ Head and body: 10″ to 14″ Tail: 8″ to 11″ |
Sign |
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Similar Species |
Habitat |
Edges of ponds and lakes, marshes, and slow-moving streams with edible vegetation |
Biology |
Behavior |
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Lifespan |
3 years |
Life Cycle |
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Food |
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Distribution |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 6/9/2025). |
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| 6/9/2025 | ||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Class |
Mammalia (mammals) |
Subclass |
Theria |
Infraclass |
Eutheria (placental mammals) |
Magnorder |
Boreoeutheria |
Superorder |
Euarchontoglires (primates, rodents, and allies) |
Clade |
Glires (rodents and rabbits) |
Order |
Rodentiia (rodents) |
Suborder |
Myomorpha (mice, rats, and hamsters) / Supramyomorpha |
Infraorder |
Myomorphi |
Superfamily |
Muroidea (muroids) |
Family |
Cricetidae (hamsters, voles, lemmings, and allies) |
Subfamily |
Arvicolinae (voles, lemmings, and muskrats) |
Tribe |
Ondatrini (muskrats) |
Genus |
Ondatra (common muskrats) |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Alaska muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus zalophus) Arizona muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus pallidus) Colorado River muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus bernardi) dusky muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus obscurus) eastern muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus zibethicus) Goldman muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus goldmani) Great Plains muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus cinnamominus) Hudson muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus albus) Labrador muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus aquilonius) large-toothed muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus macrodon) Louisiana muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus rivalicius) Nevada muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus mergens) Northwest muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus spatulatus) Oregon muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus occipitalis) Osoyoos muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus osoyoosensis) Pecos River muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus ripensis) |
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Synonyms |
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Castor zibethicus Fiber macrodon Fiber obscurus Fiber occipitalis Fiber osoyoosensis Fiber spatulatus Fiber zibethicus albus Fiber zibethicus aquilonius Fiber zibethicus cinnamominus Fiber zibethicus hudsonius Fiber zibethicus maculosa Fiber zibethicus mergens Fiber zibethicus nigra Fiber zibethicus niger Fiber zibethicus pallidus Fiber zibethicus ripensis Fiber zibethicus rivalicius Fiber zibethicus varius Fiber zibethicus zalophus Ondatra americana Ondatra zibethica bernardi Ondatra zibethica goldmani Ondatra zibethicus ripensis Ondatra zibethicus zibethicus |
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Common Names |
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common muskrat muskbeaver muskrat |
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Visitor Photos |
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Molly and Robert Power |
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Our dog spotted this guy in our brush pile |
Lynn Rubey |
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A Muskrat in The Big Stone National Wildlife refuge in shallow waters as it foraged for food and bringing up this tasty treat to enjoy. Munching on the goodness of nature as it turned and looked at me. |
Christa Rittberg |
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Wayne Rasmussen |
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Muskrat taking home a turtle at Maplewood Nature Center |
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Lodge |
Slideshows |
Ondatra zibethicus (Common Muskrat) |
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Muskrat |
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Muskrats |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Muskrat (Cricetidae: Ondatra zibethicus) Swimming, Oblique View |
About
Uploaded on Jul 29, 2009 Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (28 July 2009). "Animals have these advantages over man: they never hear the clock strike, they die without any idea of death, they have no theologians to instruct them, their last moments are not disturbed by unwelcome and unpleasant ceremonies, their funerals cost them nothing, and no one starts lawsuits over their wills." --Voltaire |
Muskrat - Ondatra zibethicus |
About
Published on Sep 18, 2015 Muskrat having its meal. Camera: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 (EXT. TELE CONV. on) |
Muskrat (Cricetidae: Ondatra zibethicus) Watercolor Artist |
About
Uploaded on May 17, 2010 Photographed at Grand Forks, North Dakota (17 May 2010). |
Muskrat Behavior |
About
Uploaded on Mar 2, 2011 I spent several weekends in November video taping the muskrats which live in the pond next the library. I edited the footage together into a sort of observational documentary. |
Visitor Sightings |
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| Molly and Robert Power 9/28/2020 |
Location: Albany MN |
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| Lynn Rubey 8/13/2019 |
Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge A Muskrat in The Big Stone National Wildlife refuge in shallow waters as it foraged for food and bringing up this tasty treat to enjoy. Munching on the goodness of nature as it turned and looked at me. |
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| Wayne Rasmussen 4/22/2014 |
Location: Maplewood Nature Center Muskrat taking home a turtle at Maplewood Nature Center |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 6/6/2016 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |