Species: Myocastor coypus

Coypu
Species
    Kingdom
    Animalia
    Phylum
    Craniata
    Class

    Mammalia

    Order

    Rodentia

    Family

    Myocastoridae

    Genus

    Myocastor

    Classification
    Other Global Common Names
    Coypo, Nutri - Nutria - Ratão-do-Banhado - castor des marais - ragondin
    Informal Taxonomy
    Animals, Vertebrates - Mammals - Rodents
    Formal Taxonomy
    Animalia - Craniata - Mammalia - Rodentia - Myocastoridae - Myocastor - in Spanish means otter.
    Migration
    true - false - false
    Non-migrant
    true
    Locally Migrant
    false
    Food Comments
    Diet consists of a wide assortment of vegetation, particularly aquatic vegetation. Roots were most important in Maryland (Willner et al. 1979).
    Reproduction Comments
    Breeds year-round. Gestation lasts 130 days. Produces several litters of 3-5 young per year; estimated annual productivity was 8 young per female in Maryland; oldest females were 3 years old (Willner et al. 1979). Sexually mature in 4-8 months, depending on environmental conditions.
    Ecology Comments
    Home range probably is less than 2.5 acres. Can become very abundant. May displace muskrat populations, though the two species may coexist where conditions are "good" (Jackson 1990). In Maryland, population density was estimated at 3-16 per ha; trapper harvest, and in one year, freezing, accounted for most mortality (Willner et al. 1979). Commonly preyed on by alligators. Lifespan generally is 2-3 years or less.
    Length
    140
    Weight
    11400
    NatureServe Global Status Rank
    G5
    Global Status Last Reviewed
    1996-11-15
    Global Status Last Changed
    1996-11-15
    Other Status

    LC - Least concern

    Conservation Status Map
    <img src="http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/GetMapGif?CA.ON=SE&US.AL=SE&US.AZ=__&US.AR=SE&US.DE=SE&US.FL=SE&US.GA=SE&US.LA=SE&US.MD=SE&US.MS=SE&US.NE=SE&US.NV=SE&US.NJ=SE&US.NM=SE&US.NC=SE&US.OK=SE&US.OR=SE&US.TX=SE&US.UT=SE&US.VA=SE&US.WA=SE" alt="Conservation Status Map" style="width: 475px; height: auto;" />
    Global Range
    Native to South America (southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile). Introduced in Louisiana in 1930s, transplanted in various parts of U.S. by weed control promoters. Most successful in southcentral U.S. U.S. range includes southeastern U.S., Oregon, Washington, Oklahoma, and Maryland. Introduced also in British Columbia, Europe, northern Asia, and eastern Africa.
    ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102549