راکالی

راکالی یا موش آبزی جونده‌ای بومی استرالیا است. این جانور در سوراخ‌های زیرزمینی کرانه‌های رودخانه‌ها، دریاچه‌ها، و مدخل رودها زندگی می‌کند و از حشرات آبزی، ماهی، سخت‌پوستان، صدف سیاه، حلزون، قورباغه، تخم پرندگان و پرندگان آبزی تغذیه می‌کند. راکالی طولی به اندازه ۳۷۰–۲۳۱ میلی‌متر دارد، وزنش ۱٬۲۷۵–۳۴۰ گرم است، و دمی ضخیم دارد که طولش به ۳۴۵–۲۴۲ میلی‌متر می‌رسد. رنگ این جانور سیاه تا قهوه‌ای در بالا و روی بدن و نارنجی تا سفید در شکم است. دم به رنگ قهوه‌ای تاریک با انتهایی سفیدرنگ است.

Hydromys chrysogaster, commonly known as Rakali or Water-rat, is an Australian native rodent. The species lives in burrows on the banks of rivers, lakes and estuaries and feeds on aquatic insects, fish, crustaceans, mussels, snails, frogs, birds' eggs and water birds. Rakali have a body 231–370 millimetres (9.1–14.6 in) in length, weigh 340–1,275 grams (0.750–2.811 lb), and have a thick tail measuring around 242–345 millimetres (9.5–13.6 in). They have webbed hind legs, waterproof fur, a flattened head, a long blunt nose, many whiskers and small ears and eyes. They are black to brown in colour with an orange to white belly, and dark tail with a white tip.

Common names[edit]

Until the 1980s, this species was commonly known as Water-rat, but during the 1990s there was a push for such descriptive English common names to be replaced with indigenous names. In 1995 the Australian Nature Conservation Agency released a document in which the following indigenous names were recorded for H. chrysogaster. They recommended that the name Rakali be adopted as the common name,[2] and the Australian Department of Environment and Heritage has taken up this suggestion. Both common names are now widespread.

Indigenous names for Hydromys chrysogaster[2]
[show]Indigenous name Linguistic group or area

Hydromys chrysogaster


Hydromys chrysogaster at the St Kilda Breakwater


Hydromys chrysogaster at the St Kilda Breakwater (rear view showing white-tipped tail)
References[edit]

Jump up ^ Aplin, K., Copley, P., Robinson, T., Burbidge, A., Morris, K., Woinarski, J., Friend, T., Ellis, M. & Menkhorst, P. (2008). Hydromys chrysogaster. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 10 October 2008.
^ Jump up to: a b Braithwaite R. W. et al. (1995). Australian names for Australian rodents. Australian Nature Conservation Agency. ISBN 0-642-21373-9.
External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hydromys chrysogaster.
Australian Museum Factsheet
Video showing a Rakali hunting rainbowfish in a coastal creek on YouTube
[show] v t e
Extant species of subfamily Murinae
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Categories: IUCN Red List least concern speciesOld World rats and miceMammals of TasmaniaMammals of Western AustraliaMammals of South AustraliaMammals of the Northern TerritoryMammals of New South WalesMammals of Victoria (Australia)Rodents of AustraliaAnimals described in 1804Murinae stubs