The European water vole or northern water vole is a semi-aquatic rodent. Sometimes, it is also called water rat, though the animal is only similar to a rat. Water voles have rounder noses than rats, deep brown fur, chubby faces and short fuzzy ears, Unlike rats their tails, paws and ears are covered with hair. In the wild, on average, water voles only live about five months. Maximum longevity in captivity is two and a half years.