Australia's equivalent of the otter - the rakali
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (349354)
Rockingham, Australia
October 13, 2022 6:23pm CST
We came across this sign by the Blackwood River in the south of Western Australia. The animal shown is a rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), also known as the water-rat or Australian native otter. “Rakali’ is an aboriginal name which it is hoped will foster a more tolerant and positive attitude towards the creature.
It is semi-aquatic, nocturnal and mostly solitary. It is distinguished from a common rat by its broader face and the white tip to its thick, dark tail. They are found throughout much of Australia and New Guinea, although it is endangered in some areas.
They live in burrows on the banks of rivers and estuaries and feed on aquatic creatures as well as snails, frogs, birds’ eggs, etc. The largest weigh up to 1200 grams (2.8 lbs). Hopefully, one day I’ll see one of these little creatures.
13 people like this
13 responses
I understand they could have been a problem.
@ptrikha_2 (47597)
• India
16 Oct 22
That sounds pretty interesting. I was not aware of this animal. Sighting such an animal would be tough and may be only at certain times.
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@ptrikha_2 (47597)
• India
17 Oct 22
@JudyEv
That would need a lot of patience as well as some skill in setting up the cameras and other equipments.
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@RebeccasFarm (93152)
• United States
14 Oct 22
Nice to learn of this little creature. I had never heard of it Judy.
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@wolfgirl569 (113654)
• Marion, Ohio
14 Oct 22
It does look very much like a rat. Hope you get to see one.
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@1creekgirl (43112)
• United States
14 Oct 22
Those sound similar to Nutrias that we see around here.
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@JudyEv (349354)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Oct 22
They are a bit similar I guess but I think they would be much smaller.
@Fleura (31386)
• United Kingdom
17 Oct 22
@JudyEv Yes those settlers were singularly lacking in imagination weren't they? Same with place-names. Or maybe they were homesick. Either way I wish they had stuck with whatever name the creature had when they arrived. I hate the confusion cause by 'American robin' etc.
But as you say they are not the same animals at all. I guess that isn't really what I meant, but rather that they have filled the same ecological niche.
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@JudyEv (349354)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Oct 22
Sometimes, an 'old world' name was given but the 'new world' animal was only similar rather than the same. I'm thinking of the US badger and the British badger. In the bird world, there are robins, magpies, and others-that-escape-my-mind-at-the-moment! 
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