A European water vole or northern water vole, Arvicola amphibius, it is a semi-aquatic rodent. It is often mistakenly called the water rat,

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This image has been taken ethically. The subject has not been manipulated or restrained in any way, nor has it been attracted with bait or recorded calls. The encounter was a chance interaction with the subject which was made possible by being in the correct habitat for the species. It has had basic image management but has not been digitally altered.

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Size: 5472px × 3648px
Location: Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire, UK
Photo credit: © Paul Young / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1, amphibius, animal, animals, arvicola, arvicolinae, bank, britain, british, brown, bushes, close, close-, closeup, cover, ditch, european, kingdom, lake, leaves, mammal, mammalia, mammals, native, nature, northern, pond, rat, ratty, river, rodent, rodents, single, swimming, uk, united, vertebrate, vertibrates, vole, water, wild, wildlife