FIELD BOOK OF MAMMALS 



Species and Subspecies of the Genus Neofiber 



Florida Water Rat. — Neofiber alleni alleni True. 



As described. Found in northern and central Florida. 

 Everglade Water Rat.^ — Neofiber alleni nigrescens Howell. 



Resembling typical alleni but less brown and more blackish 



on upperparts and more whitish (less buffy) below. Found 



in southern Florida. 



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The Round-tailed Muskrat seems to occupy a position 

 intermediate between the Meadow Mice and the Muskrats, 



Round-tailed Muskrat 



not only in size but, to a certain extent, in habits as well. 

 It is not as aquatic as the Muskrat, although it is found about 

 the edges of streams and swamps and builds platforms of 

 grass stalks in shallow water upon which it sits to feed. 

 Harper, in The Mammals of the Okefinokee Swamp Region of 

 Georgia, page 361, writes: 



" It is not quite confined to the prairies, for it probably enters 

 the water courses, and it builds its nest occasionally at the 

 bases of solitary cypresses or clumps of bushes in the prairies, 

 which may be regarded as incipient 'heads.' However, it is par 

 excellence a prairie species, with one of the most restricted 

 habitat ranges of any Okefinokee mammal. It is not even 

 found in all parts of the prairies. Where the water becomes 

 too open, or the vegetation (especially sphagnum) too sparse, 



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