Australian Swamp Rat
Rattus lutreolus
Silhouette: Kawinwit Kittipalawattanapol · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilyMuridae (Old World Mice and Rats)
- GenusRattus (Old World Rats)
- SpeciesRattus lutreolus (Australian Swamp Rat)
About the Australian Swamp Rat
The Australian swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus), also known as the eastern swamp rat, is a species of rat native to the coasts of southern and eastern Australia. The Australian swamp rat grows to have a body length of approximately 160 millimetres (6 in) with a tail length of approximately 110 mm (4.3 in) and a mass of about 120 grams (4 oz). It has a stocky build with black-brown fur and black feet. Its ventral surface is cream to brown color and it has small ears nearly concealed by hair. The tail is dark grey, scaly and sparsely haired.
The swamp rat is found near the coast of south and eastern Australia. It occurs in lowland country from Fraser Island down the coast of New South Wales and Victoria to the Mount Lofty Ranges in South Australia. A subspecies velutinus can be found in Tasmania, and another subspecies lacus lives in isolated patches of high altitude rainforest near Atherton, Queensland.
The preferred habitat of the swamp rat is thick vegetation along watercourses and in swamps. The dense vegetation of islands above the high water mark is also suitable. They can also live in areas of coastal heath, dune scrub, grasslands... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Australian Swamp Rat in Lamington National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Lamington National Park
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Otway National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 2 | Booderee National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 3 | Lamington National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 4 | Grampians National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 5 | Royal National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 6 | Blue Mountains National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 7 | Wilsons Promontory National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 8 | Freycinet National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia | |
| 9 | Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park | 🇦🇺 Australia |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Australian Swamp Rat in Lamington National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Australian Swamp Rat sighting in Lamington National Park, based on 13 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Australian Swamp Rat in Lamington National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for Australian Swamp Rat in Lamington National Park in our monthly data.