---
title: "Muskrat"
description: "Ondatra zibethicus — Mammals. The muskrat or common muskrat is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/muskrat
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Muskrat

> Ondatra zibethicus — Mammals. The muskrat or common muskrat is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent.

- Scientific name: *Ondatra zibethicus*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammals)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 59082
- Wikidata: [Q26283](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q26283)
- iNaturalist taxon: [45763](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/45763)

## Names

- en: Muskrat
- de: Bisamratte
- es: Rata almizclera
- fr: Rat musqué
- nl: Muskusrat
- pt: Rato-almiscarado
- pl: Piżmak amerykański

## Countries with the most observations

US (29188), CA (14610), RU (6789), DE (949), FR (426), UA (333), KZ (180), LU (158), BY (147), AT (118), PL (98), CN (92)

## Summary

The muskrat or common muskrat is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muskrat

## Photo

![Muskrat](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/muskrat/medium.jpg)

Photo: Robert McLeod · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/47133823

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/muskrat?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).