However, the biggest threat to the false water rat is man. The name is thought to come from an Aboriginal name for the Water Rat. The Aboriginal name for the area is Kurilpa, which means place of the water rat. The rakali, or water rat, occurs in streams. Native mammals include common brushtail possums, common ringtail possums and water rat. However, the companions arrive and overthrow the water rat army. In Victoria, at least one penguin death has been attributed to a water rat. The false water rat ("Xeromys myoides") lives in Australia and Papua New Guinea. The long-footed water rat ("Leptomys elegans") is a species of rodent in the family Muridae. The short-haired water rat ("Paraleptomys wilhelmina") is a species of rodent in the family Muridae.