How does the water vole's typical gait on land contrast with the posture of a rat?
Answer
The water vole tends to move with a slightly clumsy, waddling gait
Although the water vole is an accomplished swimmer, its terrestrial movement reflects its evolutionary bias toward the water's edge. When moving on land, the water vole typically exhibits a gait described as slightly clumsy and waddling. This movement pattern is in direct contrast to the posture of a rat, which is generally described as being more agile. This difference in gait serves as a helpful field observation, especially when size similarities between a vole and a young rat might cause confusion during identification.
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