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Australian Swamp Rat
Australian Swamp Rat
Information
Range Coasts of southern and eastern Australia
Scientific Classification
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Rodentia
Family Muridae
Genus Rattus
Species Rattus lutreolus
Conservation Status
LCSpecies
Least Concern

The Australian swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus), also known as the eastern swamp rat, is a species of rat native to the coasts of southern and eastern Australia.

Description[]

The Australian swamp rat grows to have a body length of approximately 160 millimetres (6 in) with a tail length of approximately 110 mm (4.3 in) and a mass of about 120 grams (4 oz). It has a stocky build with black-brown fur and black feet. Its ventral surface is cream to brown color and it has small ears nearly concealed by hair. The tail is dark grey, scaly and sparsely haired

Ecology[]

The Swamp Rat is found near the coast of south and eastern Australia. It occurs in lowland country from Fraser Island down the coast of New South Wales and Victoria to the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia. A subspecies velutinus can be found in Tasmania, and another subspecies lacus lives in isolated patches of high altitude rainforest near Atherton, Queensland.

The preferred habitat of the swamp rat is thick vegetation along watercourses and in swamps. Dense vegetation of islands above the high water mark is also suitable. They can also live in area of coastal heath, dune scrub, grasslands and sedgelands. The rats will form tunnels through the vegetation through which they can move. The species tend to choose the habitat based on density of vegetation in the area. Area prone to fire tend not to be recolonised. The swamp rat can be seen at places like the Healesville Sanctuary, where they live in the grounds.

Behavior[]

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