Ondatra zibethicus

(Linnaeus, 1766)

Common Muskrat

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Euarchontoglires
Order : Rodentia
Suborder : Supramyomorpha
Infraorder : Myomorphi
Superfamily : Muroidea
Family : Cricetidae
Subfamily : Arvicolinae
Tribe : Ondatrini
Genus : Ondatra

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Linnaeus, C. 1766. Systema Naturæ per Regna Tria Naturæ, Secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Tomus I. Editio Duodecima, Reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 532 pp.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42946275

Original name as described

Castor zibethicus

Other common names

Muskbeaver

Type locality

eastern Canada.

Biogeographic realm

Nearctic

Country distribution

Canada · United States · Mexico

Subregion distribution

USA(AL,AK,AR,AZ,CA,CO,CT,DE,DC,FL,GA,ID,IL,IN,IA,KS,KY,LA,ME,MD,MA,MI,MN,MS,MO,MT,NE,NV,NH,NJ,NM,NY,NC,ND,OH,OK,OR,PA,RI,SC,SD,TN,TX,UT,VT,VA,WA,WV,WI,WY)

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1002193

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Fiber nebracensis

(Hollister, 1911)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

nebracensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

AMNH FM-2702

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

32

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25802905

Authority publication

North American Fauna

Fiber zibethicus pallidus

(Mearns, 1890)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

pallidus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

AMNH MO-1767, AMNH MS-2346

Type kind

lectotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/amnh/mammals?id=urn-catalog-amnh-mammals-mo-1767 http://portal.vertnet.org/o/amnh/mammals?id=urn-catalog-amnh-mammals-ms-2346

Authority page

280

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26898744

Authority publication

Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber occipitalis

(D. G. Elliot, 1903)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

occipitalis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

FMNH:Mamm:9260

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/fmnh/mammals?id=68d6a433-bc21-49f8-8f44-2b9fbbe360cb

Authority page

162

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2638254

Authority publication

Field Columbian Museum, Zoölogical Series

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber obscurus

(Bangs, 1894)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

obscurus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MCZ:Mamm:BANGS-1155

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/guid/MCZ:Mamm:BANGS-1155

Authority page

133

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2328816

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber zibethicus rivalicius

(Bangs, 1895)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

rivalicius

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MCZ:Mamm:BANGS-2719

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/guid/MCZ:Mamm:BANGS-2719

Authority page

541

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/55624828

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Boston Society of Natural History

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber zibethicus aquilonius

(Bangs, 1899)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

aquilonius

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MCZ:Mamm:BANGS-3957

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://mczbase.mcz.harvard.edu/guid/MCZ:Mamm:BANGS-3957

Authority page

11

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12603343

Authority publication

Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Ondatra zibethica goldmani

Huey, 1938

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

goldmani

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SDNHM:MAM:12915

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/sdnhm/mammals?id=urn-catalog-sdnhm-mammals-12915

Authority page

409

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5714445

Authority publication

Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Ondatra triradicatus

Starrett, 1956

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

triradicatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

UMMP 31781

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

1188

Authority publication

Journal of Paleontology

Fiber zibethicus hudsonius

(Preble, 1902)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

hudsonius

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:106881

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3dee41ce1-30bd-4e91-b4a0-584590e579e8

Authority page

53

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25800426

Authority publication

North American Fauna

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber zibethicus ripensis

(V. O. Bailey, 1902)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

ripensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:109012

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3b37afdfd-f84e-4187-ad62-8d3e4f3d0779

Authority page

119

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2365020

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber zibethicus zalophus

(Hollister, 1910)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

zalophus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:131488

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/37393b5c4-0c0d-4a4c-9495-95f993d0d4f9

Authority page

1

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3334527

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber zibethicus mergens

(Hollister, 1910)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

mergens

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:156880

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3aa2b9483-4937-4788-9720-b595551ac6c4

Authority page

1

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3334527

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

  1. Bailey (1936:217, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25806132) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35313)
  2. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber zibethicus cinnamominus

(Hollister, 1910)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

cinnamominus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:186518

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/39323d20b-ed3a-43b0-820a-68f8edccd2c5

Authority page

125

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3334514

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Ondatra zibethica bernardi

E. A. Goldman, 1932

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

bernardi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:250454

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3d5d78759-0828-4d5a-b2c8-a8fb332f6cde

Authority page

93

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/35459345

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber macrodon

(C. H. Merriam, 1897)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

macrodon

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:75940

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/36761925f-7bd1-4ef6-b070-b4aa45be3752

Authority page

143

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2263379

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber spatulatus

(Osgood, 1900)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

spatulatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:98567

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/39e8af1a8-ab29-4cc1-8e76-6b7eaba9e773

Authority page

36

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25800095

Authority publication

North American Fauna

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Mus zibethicus

(G. Cuvier, 1797)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

zibethicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

141

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637223

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Cuvier (1797:141, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11637223) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/38531)
  2. Goldfuss (1809:141, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47497975) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34654)

Ondatra zibethica

Daudin, 1802

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

zibethica

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

166

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42033416

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Daudin (1802:166, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42033416) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/64044)
  2. Fischer (1814:xx, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29130081) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/12226)
  3. Orr (1949:100) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67164)

Fiber Zibethicus

(Godman, 1826)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

zibethicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

58

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/49165750

Authority publication

Philadelphia

Name usages

  1. Godman (1826:58, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/49165750) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67021)
  2. Smith (1842:307) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67141)
  3. Blyth (1863:123, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/47534804) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/37155)
  4. True (1885:596, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7306390) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35039)
  5. Bailey (1936:215, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25806130) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35313)

Ondatra zibethicus

Lesson, 1827

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

zibethicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

286

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207753

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1827:286, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/54207753) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36839)
  2. Lesson (1842:125) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  3. Corbet & Hill (1980:161) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  4. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:499) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  5. Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)
  6. Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)
  7. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #15324) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #15324) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  9. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1002193) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  10. Schmidly, Bradley, Yancey & Bradley (2024:33) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67259)
  11. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15324/22344525) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Castor americanus

(Lesson, 1842)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

americanus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

125

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

Lesson (1842:125) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)

Fiber zibethicus occipitalis

(V. O. Bailey, 1936)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

occipitalis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

218

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25806133

Authority publication

North American Fauna

Name usages

Bailey (1936:218, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25806133) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35313)

Fiber zibethicus osoyoosensis

(V. O. Bailey, 1936)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

osoyoosensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

215

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25806130

Authority publication

North American Fauna

Name usages

Bailey (1936:215, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25806130) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35313)

Ondatra zibethicus albus

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

albus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus aquilonius

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

aquilonius

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus goldmani

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

goldmani

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus macrodon

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

macrodon

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus mergens

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

mergens

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus obscurus

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

obscurus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus occipitalis

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

occipitalis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus osoyoosensis

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

osoyoosensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus pallidus

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

pallidus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus ripensis

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

ripensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus rivalicius

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

rivalicius

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus spatulatus

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

spatulatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus zalophus

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

zalophus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Ondatra zibethicus zibethicus

D. E. Wilson, Mittermeier, & T. E. Lacher, 2017

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

zibethicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

289

Authority publication

Barcelona

Name usages

Wilson, Mittermeier & Lacher (2017:289) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/57900)

Castor zibethicus

(Linnaeus, 1766)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

zibethicus

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

79

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42946275

Authority publication

Stockholm

Name usages

Erxleben (1777:444, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/15873241) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36060)

Ondatra americana

Tiedemann, 1808

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

americanus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

481

Authority publication

Landshut

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Lemmus zibeticus

(F. Cuvier, 1817)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

zibeticus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

310

Authority publication

Strasbourg

Fiber zibethicus-albus

(Sabine, 1823)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

albus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

660

Authority publication

book

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber Zibethicus, var. C, maculosa

(J. Richardson, 1829)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

maculosus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

119

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27984617

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber Zibethicus, var. B, nigra

(J. Richardson, 1829)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

niger

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

119

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27984617

Authority publication

London

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber osoyoosensis

(J. K. Lord, 1863)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

osoyoosensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

97

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/30681405

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber zibethicus niger

(Fitzinger, 1867)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

niger

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

103

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6476789

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber zibethicus varius

(Fitzinger, 1867)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

varius

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_novum

Authority page

103

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/6476789

Authority publication

Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Fiber zibethicus fossilis

(Roger, 1882)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

fossilis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

nomen_nudum

Authority page

139

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11880639

Authority publication

Correspondenz-Blatt des zoologisch-mineralogischen Vereines in Regensburg

Fiber niger

(E. Brass, 1911)

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

niger

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

preoccupied

Authority page

604

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14911524

Authority publication

Berlin

Name usages

Musser & Carleton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8562)

Ondatra zibethicus floridanus

B. Lawrence, 1942

Family

Cricetidae

Root name

floridanus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

17

Authority publication

Proceedings of the New England Zoological Club

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