Hydromys chrysogaster (Rakali or Water Rat)
The Australian Water-rat (Hydromys chrysogaster) is a genuine native rodent that was a natural part of our environment long before its pest cousins - the black rat and brown rat - arrived with the early colonists. The Water-rat (also known as Rakali) has a thick coat of waterproof, soft fur, dense whiskers, blunt muzzle, partly webbed hind feet and furry tail. It is black to brown in colour with an orange to white belly, and dark tail with a white tip.
Most active at dusk, but can be active anytime of day. Feed on a variety of primarily animal foods including fish, crustaceans, shellfish and some vertebrates. They have learnt to eat the toxic Cane Toad by flipping it over on its back to avoid the poisonous shoulder glands. They live in a burrow on the low banks of waterways.
They have been protected since 1938; before then they were killed as a nuisance animal and hunted for their soft fur. Widespread in permanent water bodies of Australia, New Guinea and offshore Islands. As it is widespread it has various Indigenous names according to the local linguistic group or area.
References
Hydromys chrysogaster is listed in the following regions:
Canberra & Southern Tablelands | Southern Highlands | Albury, Wodonga | South Coast | Riverina Murray | Far West New South Wales | New South Wales North Coast | Hume | Greater Melbourne | Loddon Mallee | Central Queensland | South West Western Australia
Species information
- Hydromys chrysogaster Scientific name
- Rakali or Water Rat Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 1940m Recorded at altitude
- 293 images trained Machine learning
- External link More information
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Maps
Albury ANBG ANU Banks Precinct ANU Dickson Precinct ANU Ellery Precinct ANU Garran Precinct ANU Kingsley Precinct Aranda Bushland Attunga Point Australian National University Bago State Forest Berrima Berrima River Reserve Bowral Budderoo National Park Bullen Range CA0779 Canberra City Farm Central Molonglo Charles Sturt University City Renewal Authority Area Commonwealth & Kings Parks Cotter Reserve Cotter Reservoir Fyshwick Sewerage Treatment Plant Gibraltar Pines Gigerline Nature Reserve Ginninderry Conservation Corridor Giralang Wetlands Googong Foreshore Googong Reservoir Goulburn Mulwaree Council Gungahlin Pond Horseshoe Lagoon and West Albury Wetlands Jarramlee Pond Jerrabomberra Wetlands Kambah Pool Kosciuszko National Park Lake Burley Griffin Central/East Lake Burley Griffin West Lake Ginninderra Lake Tuggeranong Lawson North Grasslands Lions Youth Haven - Westwood Farm A.C.T. Lower Cotter Catchment Lower Molonglo Lyneham Ridge Lyneham Wetland McKellar Wetlands Mittagong Molonglo Gorge Molonglo River Reserve Mongarlowe River Mount Ainslie to Black Mountain Namadgi National Park National Arboretum Forests O'Connor Ridge to Gungahlin Grasslands Pine Island to Point Hut Point Hut to Tharwa Queanbeyan River Stirling Park Stony Creek Sullivans Creek, Acton Sullivans Creek, Lyneham North Sullivans Creek, Lyneham South Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve Umbagong District Park Wandiyali-Environa Conservation Area Wingecarribee Local Government Area Winton Wetlands Wodonga Wollondilly River Corridor & Walkway, Goulburn Wonga Wetlands Woodstock Nature Reserve -
Places
Barton, ACT Belconnen, ACT Burra, NSW Campbell, ACT Chesney Vale, VIC Darlington Point, NSW Environa, NSW Fyshwick, ACT Parkes, ACT Point Cook, VIC Rewan, QLD Thurgoona, NSW Tyndale, NSW
