---
title: "Australische beverrat"
description: "Hydromys chrysogaster — Zoogdieren. The rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), also known as the rabe, the \"Australian otter\" or water-rat, is an Australian native rodent first scientifically described in 1804."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/nl/animal/rakali
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Australische beverrat

> Hydromys chrysogaster — Zoogdieren. The rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), also known as the rabe, the "Australian otter" or water-rat, is an Australian native rodent first scientifically described in 1804.

- Scientific name: *Hydromys chrysogaster*
- Category: `mammals` (Zoogdieren)
- Habitats: `freshwater` (Meren en rivieren)
- iNaturalist observations: 2857
- Wikidata: [Q852782](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q852782)
- iNaturalist taxon: [45292](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/45292)

## Names

- en: Rakali
- de: Goldbauch-Schwimmratte
- fr: Rat d'eau australien
- nl: Australische beverrat
- pl: Bobroszczur złotobrzuchy

## Countries with the most observations

AU (2454), ID (5)

## Summary

The rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), also known as the rabe, the "Australian otter" or water-rat, is an Australian native rodent first scientifically described in 1804. Adoption of the Ngarrindjeri name rakali is intended to foster a positive public attitude by Environment Australia.
One of four described species in the genus Hydromys, it is the only one with a range extending beyond New Guinea. Having adapted to and colonised a unique niche of a semiaquatic and nocturnal lifestyle, this species lives in burrows on the banks of rivers, lakes and estuaries and feeds on aquatic insects, fish, crustaceans, mussels, snails…

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

## Photo

![Australische beverrat](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/rakali/medium.jpg)

Photo: Damo O · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/40314817

## Machine access

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