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809 Featured Specimen
Coypu

Details

Coypu

Myocastor coypus

Size
40–60 cm · 5–9 kg
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Crepuscular
Sociality
Loose group
Lifespan

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.

Range

Habitat range map
Native range Occasional / Transient
PalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticPalearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNearcticNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropicalNeotropical

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

Details

Habitat

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.

Appearance

Typical length 40-60 cm, weight 5 kg-9 kg. A rounded body, long tail, orange incisors, and webbed hind feet are conspicuous.

Behavior

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.

Feeding

It is herbivorous. Aquatic plants, grasses, roots, and crops are heavily grazed or gnawed.

Reproduction

Females produce well-developed young that begin swimming and feeding early.

Notes

Although still widespread in places, it remains sensitive to habitat change. In introduced regions, burrowing and feeding can damage banks, levees, and crops.