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. [2] Adoption of the Ngarrindjeri name rakali is intended to foster a positive public attitude by Environment Australia.

The rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster) is an Australian native rodent first described in 1804. Having adapted to and colonized a unique niche of a semiaquatic and nocturnal lifestyle, this rakali lives in burrows on the banks of rivers, lakes and estuaries and feeds on a wide range of aquatic prey.

The rakali is one of Australia’s only mammals to safely enjoy a meal of the highly toxic cane toad. Image credit: Rod Williams/Alamy . Although often confused with a land rat, the rakali behaves more like the otter or platypus.

The rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), also known as the water-rat, is an Australian native rodent. The species lives in burrows on the banks of rivers, lakes and estuaries. It feeds on aquatic insects, fish, crustaceans, mussels, snails, frogs, birds' eggs and water birds.

Rakali, previously known as Australia’s ‘water rat’, is an important species in Australia’s aquatic ecosystems. The largest of all Australian native rodents, rakali can be found anywhere in Australia where there is water all year round; the species’ only habitat requirement is clean water and plenty of vegetation.

The rakali was widely trapped for its fur in the 1930s and early 1940s (Watts and Aslin 1981). The species is now considered to be nationally secure and has been assigned an international conservation status of “Least Concern”.

Sep 24, 2019 · AUSTRALIA’S WATER RATS or Rakali, are one of Australia’s beautiful but lesser-known native rodents. And these intelligent, semi-aquatic rats have revealed another talent: they are one of the only Australian mammals to safely eat toxic cane toads.

The rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster) — also commonly known as a water rat — is a unique, semi-aquatic native rodent. Shy and nocturnal, they are identifiable by their large size (similar to a platypus) and white-tipped tail.

Hydromys chrysogaster, commonly known as rakali, rabe or water-rat, is an Australian native rodent first described in 1804. The change to the aboriginal name Rakali was intended to foster a positive public attitude by Environment Australia.

Even if your local creek or lake doesn’t support a platypus population, it may well support rakali (or Australian water-rats). These otter-like native rodents have shared the platypus’s environment for several million years. In this section you can read about rakali biology and issues affecting rakali conservation, including: