Marsh rice rats are among the most common mammals inhabiting tidal marshes of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Being good swimmers, diving to 10 m and crossing 300 m stretches of water, and able climbers, these rice rats are suitably equipped for life in an environment where water levels fluctuate. Learn more about the Oryzomys palustris, more commonly known as a Marsh Rice Rat, in this easy-to-read species overview by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.