The European water vole or northern water vole, Arvicola amphibius (formerly A. terrestris), is a semi-aquatic rodent. It is often informally called the water rat, although it only superficially resembles a true rat. Water voles have rounder noses than rats, deep brown fur, chubby faces and short fuzzy ears; unlike rats their tails, paws and ears are covered with hair.
In the wild, on average, water voles only live about five months. Maximum longevity in captivity is 2 and a half years.
The water vole is legally protected in the United Kingdom.
Read more about European Water Vole: Appearance, Taxonomy, Range, Habitat, Diet, Breeding, Behaviour, Conservation, Literary Appearances
Famous quotes containing the words european and/or water:
“If Germany, thanks to Hitler and his successors, were to enslave the European nations and destroy most of the treasures of their past, future historians would certainly pronounce that she had civilized Europe.”
—Simone Weil (1909–1943)
“Instead of water we got here a draught of beer,... a lumberer’s drink, which would acclimate and naturalize a man at once,—which would make him see green, and, if he slept, dream that he heard the wind sough among the pines.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)