Arvicola terrestris is a well-known animal in Europe; to them it is known as a rodent. The common name for the Arvicola terrestris is called European Water Vole. Over the years the scientific name Arvicola terrestris changed to Arvicola amphibius. This vole resembles a rat so they call it a water rat or ratty. This animal is both herbivore and omnivore. Herbivore is an animal that gets energy from eating plants and an omnivore is an animal that eats both plants and animals such as insects and mollusks.

The European Water Vole has dark and light brown fur. They have a round body and a short flat face. They are very similar to a rat but the only difference is there long tail is covered with fur, and their muzzles are blunt not pointed like a rat. Also these water rats have chubby cheeks, have a ton of whiskers; their ears are reddish- brown color. Most people think the easiest way to identify a water vole is by its furry tail. Their size can range from 140-220 mm in body length and the tail can range between 95-140 mm.

Most frequently these European Water Voles are found in Western Europe, Siberia Mongolia, and some parts of south west Asia. In these areas they burrow at the edges of river banks, streams, ponds, swamps, marsh and other bodies of water. They can chose to live in a large group or once they are mature enough they can have their own territory. They adapt well to their habitat because they are expert swimmers. Their behavior is not severe they will only attack when their territory is invaded by another water vole.

These voles eat mainly a lot of vegetables, such as grasses, buds, and reed grasses. They also eat herbs, water snails, fallen fruit, and seeds. They even eat plants and sometimes they ruin crops. They are also known to eat some animals such as insects, and mollusks.

They reproduce sexually and there are more males than females. Their breeding season is from April to October. The females pregnancy lasts only 21 days, their litter can contain up to six voles each. The females are the main givers; the females may mature as early as five weeks of age. Their population is from 2.3 million to eight million and will be extinct within ten years. Last the voles predators are foxes, large fish, owls, coyotes, cats, skunks, snakes, and of course by humans. But Water Voles are usually safe in their burrows.

The Arvicola terrestris is a rat-like animal, with dark brown hair, that lives in Europe. They eat many types of food such as, different grasses, buds, fallen fruit, and insects. You also learned that they adapt well to their habitat because they are good swimmers. So as you can see this rodent is very rare and have a lot of similarities of a rat.

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Author: Julia W.

Date published: 02/2012

Sources:
Animal Diversity Web. Web. 14 Feb. 2011. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/>.

 

"Water Vole: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article." AbsoluteAstronomy.com.

 Web. 14 Feb. 2011. <http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Water_Vole>.

 

Woodroffe, Gordon. The Water Vole. London: Mammal Society, 1996. Print.

 

Photo credit Animal Diversity. Web