The European water vole or northern water vole, is a semi-aquatic rodent. It is often informally called the water rat, though 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.
European water vole
Skull of a European water vole.
Water vole, Ore Mountains, Germany
'Release pens' being set up for water voles that had been bred in captivity set to be released to bolster the numbers of a colony in Ringwood, Hampshire
Voles are small rodents that are relatives of lemmings and hamsters, but with a stouter body; a longer, hairy tail; a slightly rounder head; smaller eyes and ears; and differently formed molars. They are sometimes known as meadow mice or field mice in North America.
Vole