Species: Myocastor coypus
Coypu
Species
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Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Craniata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Rodentia
Family
Myocastoridae
Genus
Myocastor
NatureServe
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.
Ecology and Life History
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
Conservation Status
NatureServe Global Status Rank
G5
Global Status Last Reviewed
1996-11-15
Global Status Last Changed
1996-11-15
Other Status
LC - Least concern
Distribution
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.