: Typically 14–22 cm long with a tail of 9–14 cm, weighing between 150g and 300g.
: Primarily herbivores, they eat grasses and aquatic plants, often leaving stems cut at a distinctive 45-degree angle . Conservation Status arvicola
: They have a blunt, rounded muzzle, small ears almost hidden in thick fur, and a furry tail, unlike the scaly tail of a rat. : Typically 14–22 cm long with a tail
The genus primarily refers to water voles , a group of large, semi-aquatic rodents found across Europe and northern Asia. The most well-known species is the European water vole ( Arvicola amphibius ), famous as the inspiration for "Ratty" in The Wind in the Willows . Key Characteristics & Identification The genus primarily refers to water voles ,
: They are expert "engineers," digging complex burrow systems into riverbanks. You can often find "lawns" of closely cropped grass around their burrow entrances.
While often mistaken for rats, water voles have distinct features: