Details
Myocastor coypus
Coypu is a large semiaquatic South American rodent also known as the nutria. In introduced regions, burrowing and feeding can damage banks, levees, and crops.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It lives in marshes, rivers, ponds, canals, and wet grassland, including many introduced wetland populations. Main habitat types in this guide are freshwater, grassland, urban.
Typical length 40-60 cm, weight 5 kg-9 kg. A rounded body, long tail, orange incisors, and webbed hind feet are conspicuous.
It is most active around dawn and dusk and often found in loose groups. It moves between bank burrows and water and may feed in small groups along shorelines.
It is herbivorous. Aquatic plants, grasses, roots, and crops are heavily grazed or gnawed.
Females produce well-developed young that begin swimming and feeding early.
Although still widespread in places, it remains sensitive to habitat change. In introduced regions, burrowing and feeding can damage banks, levees, and crops.
