water vole
Swimming burrowing mammal
A water vole is a large, stocky vole that lives along riverbanks, streams, and marshes, where it burrows into the banks and feeds on waterside vegetation.
Native to Europe and parts of Asia, water voles are often mistaken for rats but have rounder faces, smaller ears, and furry tails.
We spotted a water vole slipping into the reeds.
Edwardian children's novel
Relating to riverbanks
- wetlandsWater-saturated terrain
- marshesWaterlogged land with grasses
- riverbankLand bordering a stream
- reedsHollow-stemmed marsh plants
sedges · cattails · willows · burrow · stream · freshwater · floodplain · meander
Range of life forms
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- bioindicatorSpecies showing ecosystem health
- trophicRelating to feeding
- predationHunting and consuming prey
mink · heron · otter · pike · owl · population · territory · foraging
Digging to create shelter
- swimmingLocomotion through water
- divingEntering water deliberately
- nibblingEating in small bites
- feedingGiving food to
territorial · grazing · latrines · runways · plop · nocturnal · crepuscular · breeding
Mammal's fur collectively
- incisorsFront cutting teeth
- whiskersFacial sensory hairs
- tailRear animal appendage
- underfurMammal's insulating base coat
guard hairs · dense fur · small ears · webbed feet · molars · gnawing · stocky · rounded
Wind in the Willows
Edwardian children's novel
riparian
Relating to riverbanks
reeds · sedges · cattails · willows · burrow · stream · freshwater · floodplain · meander · aquatic plants
biodiversity
Range of life forms
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
- bioindicatorSpecies showing ecosystem health
- trophicRelating to feeding
predation · mink · heron · otter · pike · owl · population · territory · foraging · herbivore
burrowing
Digging to create shelter
feeding · territorial · grazing · latrines · runways · plop · nocturnal · crepuscular · breeding · litter
pelage
Mammal's fur collectively
underfur · guard hairs · dense fur · small ears · webbed feet · molars · gnawing · stocky · rounded · quadruped