Hydromys chrysogaster

Rakali or Water Rat at Belconnen, ACT

Hydromys chrysogaster at Belconnen, ACT - 17 Jun 2019
Hydromys chrysogaster at Belconnen, ACT - 17 Jun 2019
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Identification history

Hydromys chrysogaster 19 Jun 2019 DonFletcher
Hydromys chrysogaster 18 Jun 2019 AlisonMilton

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User's notes

Sadly deceased. I have commonly spotted them here. Interesting that the belly fur has been stripped. I initially thought that some paper or debris had settled on the belly but when checking on the computer, realised that the fur had actually been stripped.

3 comments

DonFletcher wrote:
   19 Jun 2019
Hi Alison, When mammals decompose in water, fur sheds just like that, especially from the belly, so this one was not necessarily plucked or 'stripped'. I suspect your ID is correct but I'm finding it hard to see a really convincing Rakali ID feature on this animal to enable me to 'confirm' it. If you have another photo showing the white tail tip, or one showing webbed feet, or one indicating the scale so we can tell your rat is larger than a Norway Rat or Black Rat, that would help. cheers
AlisonMilton wrote:
   19 Jun 2019
Thanks Don. These are the only photos I have. It was difficult to photograph as the only view was from the bridge over Lake Ginninderra. I have regularly seen rakali here so presumed this was the species. Not seen any other rat species here.
DonFletcher wrote:
   19 Jun 2019
Using the maple leaves for scale, I think it probably has a head-body length of around 20cm so will go with Rakali

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Nearby sightings

Page 1 of 1 - image sightings only

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Hydromys chrysogaster (Rakali or Water Rat) at Belconnen, ACT - 3 Jul 2020 by Alison Milton
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Microcarbo melanoleucos (Little Pied Cormorant) at Belconnen, ACT - 29 Jun 2019 by Alison Milton
Hydromys chrysogaster (Rakali or Water Rat) at Belconnen, ACT - 29 Jun 2019 by Alison Milton
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Ischnura heterosticta (Common Bluetail Damselfly) at Belconnen, ACT - 12 Mar 2019 by AlisonMilton
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Phalacrocorax sulcirostris (Little Black Cormorant) at Belconnen, ACT - 12 Mar 2019 by Alison Milton
Microcarbo melanoleucos (Little Pied Cormorant) at Belconnen, ACT - 12 Mar 2019 by Alison Milton
Phalacrocorax sulcirostris (Little Black Cormorant) at Belconnen, ACT - 22 Dec 2018 by Alison Milton
Phalacrocorax carbo (Great Cormorant) at Belconnen, ACT - 22 Dec 2018 by Alison Milton
Ischnura heterosticta (Common Bluetail Damselfly) at Belconnen, ACT - 22 Dec 2018 by Alison Milton
Phalacrocorax carbo (Great Cormorant) at Belconnen, ACT - 16 Dec 2018 by Alison Milton
Phalacrocorax sulcirostris (Little Black Cormorant) at Belconnen, ACT - 7 Dec 2018 by Alison Milton
Oenothera lindheimeri (Clockweed) at Belconnen, ACT - 26 Nov 2018 by AlisonMilton
Ptilotula penicillata (White-plumed Honeyeater) at Belconnen, ACT - 26 Nov 2018 by Alison Milton
Sturnus vulgaris (Common Starling) at Belconnen, ACT - 26 Oct 2018 by Alison Milton
Threskiornis molucca (Australian White Ibis) at Belconnen, ACT - 16 Sep 2018 by Alison Milton
Strepera graculina (Pied Currawong) at Belconnen, ACT - 2 Sep 2018 by Alison Milton
Grallina cyanoleuca (Magpie-lark) at Belconnen, ACT - 2 Sep 2018 by Alison Milton
Microcarbo melanoleucos (Little Pied Cormorant) at Belconnen, ACT - 2 Jul 2018 by Alison Milton
Microcarbo melanoleucos (Little Pied Cormorant) at Belconnen, ACT - 27 Jun 2018 by KMcCue
Eolophus roseicapilla (Galah) at Belconnen, ACT - 28 May 2018 by Alison Milton
Hydromys chrysogaster (Rakali or Water Rat) at Belconnen, ACT - 27 May 2018 by Alison Milton
Threskiornis molucca (Australian White Ibis) at Belconnen, ACT - 27 May 2018 by Alison Milton
Ardea alba (Great Egret) at Belconnen, ACT - 31 Mar 2018 by Alison Milton
Hemicordulia australiae (Australian Emerald) at Belconnen, ACT - 29 Mar 2018 by Alison Milton
Ischnura heterosticta (Common Bluetail Damselfly) at Belconnen, ACT - 29 Mar 2018 by Alison Milton
Vespula germanica (European wasp) at Belconnen, ACT - 29 Mar 2018 by Alison Milton
Polistes (Polistella) humilis (Common Paper Wasp) at Belconnen, ACT - 27 Mar 2018 by Alison Milton
Acrocephalus australis (Australian Reed-Warbler) at Belconnen, ACT - 27 Mar 2018 by Alison Milton
Phalacrocorax sulcirostris (Little Black Cormorant) at Belconnen, ACT - 27 Mar 2018 by Alison Milton
Gallinula tenebrosa (Dusky Moorhen) at Belconnen, ACT - 21 Mar 2018 by Alison Milton
Ardea alba (Great Egret) at Belconnen, ACT - 20 Mar 2018 by Alison Milton
Gambusia holbrooki (Gambusia, Plague minnow, Mosquito fish) at Belconnen, ACT - 10 Feb 2018 by Alison Milton
Orthetrum caledonicum (Blue Skimmer) at Belconnen, ACT - 10 Feb 2018 by Alison Milton
Junonia villida (Meadow Argus) at Belconnen, ACT - 10 Feb 2018 by Alison Milton
Orthetrum caledonicum (Blue Skimmer) at Belconnen, ACT - 10 Feb 2018 by Alison Milton
Hemicordulia tau (Tau Emerald) at Belconnen, ACT - 10 Feb 2018 by AlisonMilton
Hydromys chrysogaster (Rakali or Water Rat) at Belconnen, ACT - 10 Feb 2018 by Alison Milton
Anas superciliosa (Pacific Black Duck) at Belconnen, ACT - 18 May 2017 by AlisonMilton
Cacatua galerita (Sulphur-crested Cockatoo) at Belconnen, ACT - 18 May 2017 by Alison Milton
Anthochaera carunculata (Red Wattlebird) at Belconnen, ACT - 18 May 2017 by Alison Milton

Location information

Sighting information

  • 1 Abundance
  • 17 Jun 2019 01:01 PM Recorded on
  • AlisonMilton Recorded by

Species information

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