---
title: "Southwestern Water Vole"
description: "Arvicola sapidus — Mammals. The southwestern water vole or southern water vole (Arvicola sapidus) is a large amphibious vole native to most of France and southwestwards through Spain and Portugal."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/southwestern-water-vole
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Southwestern Water Vole

> Arvicola sapidus — Mammals. The southwestern water vole or southern water vole (Arvicola sapidus) is a large amphibious vole native to most of France and southwestwards through Spain and Portugal.

- Scientific name: *Arvicola sapidus*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammals)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Lakes & rivers)
- iNaturalist observations: 367
- Wikidata: [Q301535](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q301535)
- iNaturalist taxon: [45748](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/45748)

## Names

- en: Southwestern Water Vole
- de: Westschermaus
- es: Rata De Agua
- fr: Campagnol Amphibie
- nl: West-Europese woelrat
- pl: Karczownik zachodni

## Countries with the most observations

PT (80), ES (57), FR (42)

## Summary

The southwestern water vole or southern water vole (Arvicola sapidus) is a large amphibious vole native to most of France and southwestwards through Spain and Portugal.  It is listed on the IUCN Red List as a Near Threatened species.

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

## Photo

![Southwestern Water Vole](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/southwestern-water-vole/medium.jpg)

Photo: Antón David Pérez Rodríguez · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/360158685

## Machine access

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