Australian Water Rat - Hydromys chrysogaster

These little fellas live in burrows by the water's edge and in the low light of evening venture out for a night of scavenging and hunting. They are proficient swimmers and are quite successful in hunting resting fish and frogs, amongst other prey like insect larvae and plant material.

Often the first sign there is a water rat is a slight sploosh as they dive under and disappear, and many people are oblivious to their presence. Their webbed feet enables them to swim with great mastery.

Their beautiful pelt and decent size made them a target for fur trappers, but they are now protected under the Native Animals Act and their numbers are recovering very well.