The
European water vole or
northern water vole,
Arvicola amphibius (formerly
A. terrestris), is a
semi-aquatic rodent. It is often informally called the
water rat, although it only superficially resembles a true
rat. Water voles have rounder noses than rats, deep brown fur, chubby faces and short fuzzy ears; unlike rats their tails, paws and ears are covered with hair.