Rakali
RakaliRakaliRakaliRakali

Rakali

Hydromys chrysogaster

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Blue Mountains National Park
24 Verified records at Blue Mountains National Park
February Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The rakali (Hydromys chrysogaster), also known as the rabe, the "Australian otter" or water-rat, is an Australian native rodent first scientifically described in 1804. Adoption of the Ngarrindjeri name rakali is intended to foster a positive public attitude by Environment Australia. One of four described species in the genus Hydromys, it is the only one with a range extending beyond New Guinea. Having adapted to and colonised a unique niche of a semiaquatic and nocturnal lifestyle, this species lives in burrows on the banks of rivers, lakes and estuaries and feeds on aquatic insects, fish, crustaceans, mussels, snails, frogs, cane toads, bird's eggs and small water birds. Rakali have a body length of 23–37 cm (9–15 in), weigh 340–1,275 g (12–45 oz), and have a thick tail measuring around 24–35 cm (9–14 in). Females are generally smaller than males but tail lengths are normally the same. Wikipedia →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Rakali sighting in Blue Mountains National Park, based on 24 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Blue Mountains National Park

Bush Rat
LC Endemic

Bush Rat

☀️🌙 Day & Night Mammal

Rattus fuscipes

<5% · Rare
Australian Swamp Rat
LC Endemic

Australian Swamp Rat

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Rattus lutreolus

<5% · Rare

📅 Monthly Probability

5–10
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
5–10
Apr
5–10
May
10–20
Jun
5–10
Jul
5–10
Aug
5–10
Sep
5–10
Oct
<5
Nov
5–10
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Kosciuszko National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
20–30%
2 Blue Mountains National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
3 Daintree National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
5–10%
4 Lamington National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
<5%
5 Maria Island National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
6 Great Otway National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
7 Freycinet National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
8 Booderee National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
9 Grampians National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
10 Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
11 Kakadu National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data
12 Springbrook National Park 🇦🇺 Australia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Rakali in Blue Mountains National Park?

About 8% of wildlife watchers report a Rakali sighting in Blue Mountains National Park, based on 24 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Rakali in Blue Mountains National Park?

February has the highest sighting rate for Rakali in Blue Mountains National Park in our monthly data.

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