Marsh rice rat: Where It Lives, Map & Facts

Where the marsh rice rat lives – recorded in 2 countries, with quick facts from Wikidata and an introduction from Wikipedia.

Scientific name	Oryzomys palustris
Group	Mice, rats & other rodents
Status	Least concern (Wikidata, IUCN category label)
Found in	2 countries
Continents	North America
Class	Mammal
Order	Rodentia
Family	Cricetidae

Where does the marsh rice rat live?

Open-licence (CC0 / CC BY) wild records published on GBIF place the marsh rice rat in 2 countries and territories across North America.

Countries with at least a handful of records (a minimum share of the species’ records, to leave out vagrants and escapes). Records with coordinates only; captive and fossil records excluded.

Is the marsh rice rat endangered?

The marsh rice rat’s conservation status recorded in Wikidata is “Least concern” (an IUCN Red List category label). Source: Wikidata.

What kind of animal is the marsh rice rat?

The marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) is a mammal in the order Rodentia and the family Cricetidae, genus Oryzomys. (Taxonomy from Wikidata.)

About the marsh rice rat

The marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) is a semiaquatic North American rodent in the family Cricetidae. It usually occurs in wetland habitats, such as swamps and salt marshes. It is found mostly in the eastern and southern United States, from New Jersey and Kansas south to Florida and northeasternmost Tamaulipas, Mexico; its range previously extended further west and north, where it may have been a commensal in corn-cultivating communities. Weighing about 40 to 80 g (1.4 to 2.8 oz), the marsh rice rat is a medium-sized rodent that resembles the common black and brown rat. The upperparts are generally gray-brown, but are reddish in many Florida populations. The feet show several specializations for life in the water. The skull is large and flattened, and is short at the front.

Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Marsh rice rat (revision 1320652194), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes: lead section excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Quick facts, taxonomy and status: Wikidata Q1092084 (CC0). Countries and pin: GBIF.org occurrence records (CC0 / CC BY 4.0).