marsh rice rat

The marsh rice rat, belonging to the genus Oryzomys, is a nocturnal rodent found from the United States to South America. These small animals have soft fur, typically grayish-brown on top and lighter underneath, with sparsely haired tails. Their size varies, with some species reaching up to 12 cm and others up to 20 cm in body length.1

The marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) was historically a pest in rice plantations and is now commonly found in coastal marshes, wet meadows, and grassy clearings. They are adept swimmers and climbers, building globular nests in marsh grasses or shrubs. Their diet is opportunistic, including seeds, grasses, invertebrates, small vertebrates, and carrion. Several other genera are also referred to as rice rats, all belonging to the Muridae family within the order Rodentia.1