Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

rice rat (Oryzomys palustris natator)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The silver rice rat is of generalized rat-like appearance, with a slender skull and coarse fur which is colored silver-gray along its back. This rat has a sparsely-haired tail and reaches 250 millimeters (10 inches) in total length.

Map of Species occurrence

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Map Image Map of Species occurrence Map of Species occurrence

This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)



  • States/US Territories in which the rice rat, lower FL Keys is known to or is believed to occur:  Florida
  • US Counties in which the rice rat, lower FL Keys is known to or is believed to occur:  View All
  • USFWS Refuges in which the rice rat, lower FL Keys is known to occur:  GREAT WHITE HERON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, NATIONAL KEY DEER REFUGE
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
04/30/1991 Southeast Region (Region 4) Lower FL Keys (west of Seven Mile Bridge)

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 7: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
04/26/2007 72 FR 20866 20868 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 22 Southeastern Species
03/26/2007 72 FR 14132 14133 Notice of Availability of a Final Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
04/02/2004 69 FR 17442 17443 Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
08/31/1993 58 FR 46030 46034 ETWP; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Silver Rice Rat
05/07/1992 57 FR 19585 19590 ETWP; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Silver Rice Rat

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
05/18/1999 South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan (68 spp.) View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 3 of 3)
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
04/26/2007 72 FR 20866 20868 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 5-Year Review of 22 Southeastern Species
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation
    • 03/26/2007 72 FR 14132 14133 Notice of Availability of a Final Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
  • Notice Recovery Plan Avail.
    • 04/02/2004 69 FR 17442 17443 Notice of Availability of a Technical/Agency Draft Implementation Schedule for the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan
  • Notice Draft Recovery Plan Availability
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    08/18/2008 Rice Rat 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 2 of 2)
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    08/31/1993 58 FR 46030 46034 ETWP; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Silver Rice Rat Final Rule Final designated
    05/07/1992 57 FR 19585 19590 ETWP; Proposed Designation of Critical Habitat for the Silver Rice Rat Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    No conservation plans have been created for rice rat, lower FL Keys

    » Petitions

    No petition findings have been published for the rice rat, lower FL Keys.

    » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: February 14, 2013