Muskrat Male Skull Replica

$61.00

Plant materials compose about 95% of their diets, but they also eat small animals, such as freshwater mussels, frogs, crayfish, fish, and small turtles.

Description

Muskrat Male Skull Replica measures 69mm or 2.3 inches. Muskrat Male Skull Replica is Museum quality polyurethane cast made in USA. 2-part skull (separate cranium & jaw). Our precise skull can be used as a teaching tool, museum skull exhibit, home décor skull, or office décor skull.

The Muskrat or Ondatra zibethicus, the only species in genus Ondatra and tribe Ondatrini, is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent native to North America and an introduced species in parts of Europe, Asia, and South America.

The muskrat is found in wetlands over a wide range of climates and habitats. Muskrats or Ondatra zibethicus have important effects on the ecology of wetlands, and is a resource of food and fur for humans.

Muskrat or Ondatra zibethicus are covered with short, thick fur, which is medium to dark brown or black in color, with the belly a bit lighter as the age increases, it turns a partly gray in color.

The fur has two layers, which help protect them from the cold water. They have long tails covered with scales rather than hair, and to aid them in swimming, are slightly flattened vertically, which is a shape that is unique to them. When they walk on land, their tails drag on the ground, which makes their tracks easy to recognize.

Muskrat or Ondatra zibethicus spend most of their time in the water and are well suited for their semi-aquatic life. They can swim under water for 12 to 17 minutes.

Ondatra zibethicus are most active at night or near dawn and dusk. They feed on cattail and other aquatic vegetation. They do not store food for the winter, but sometimes eat the insides of their push-ups.

They also eat small animals, such as freshwater mussels, frogs, crayfish, fish, and small turtles. They follow trails they make in swamps and ponds. When the water freezes, they continue to follow their trails under the ice.

Shop More Museum Quality Rodent Skulls in Rodent Skull Store

 

Additional information

Weight 1 lbs
Dimensions 2.3 in
Muskrat Facts

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Cricetidae
Subfamily: Arvicolinae
Tribe: Ondatrini
Genus: Ondatra
Species: O. zibethicus
Binomial name: Ondatra zibethicus
Conservation status: Least concern – A least concern species is a species that has been categorized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as evaluated as not being a focus of species conservation.