Myocastor coypus: Difference between revisions
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<i>This page is all up-to-date. No further observations.</i> | |||
== About == | == About == | ||
[[File:Myocastor_coypus_03.jpg|thumb|A Coypu in the wetlands]] | [[File:Myocastor_coypus_03.jpg|thumb|A Coypu in the wetlands]] | ||
Whenever it's not a beaver, it might be a <b>Coypu</b>, also called <b>Nutria</b> in my region, but not so much in their place of origin in South America. The difference is mainly in the tail. If you see a large rodent who could be a beaver but it doesn't have the flat tail but one that looks a lot like a big rat's tail, that's a coypu. They live in the same place, though, which is mostly wetlands, swamps and rivers. | Whenever it's not a beaver, it might be a <b>Coypu</b>, also called <b>Nutria</b> in my region, but not so much in their place of origin in South America. The visual difference is mainly in the tail. If you see a large rodent who could be a beaver but it doesn't have the flat tail but one that looks a lot like a big rat's tail, that's a coypu. They live in the same place, though, which is mostly wetlands, swamps and rivers. | ||
While they are cute in a big rodent way, coypus are an invasive species in Germany and Europe as a whole. They were imported for breeding on pelt farms but when fur fell out of fashion, some were let | While they are cute in a big rodent way, coypus are an invasive species in Germany and Europe as a whole. They were imported for breeding on pelt farms but when fur fell out of fashion, some were let roam free, some escaped the abandoned farms. These days, nutrias are beloved for their ability to interact friendly with humans in many cities. People like feeding them and the nutrias love breeding in large numbers. While doing so, they fill the niche, the native [[Castor fiber]] used to fill - minus all the good, beavers do for rivers and water landscapes. Nutrias do not manage waterways or regulate tree growth, but they build their den where a beaver could live. Yet, they are very lovely, harmless animals who are mostly just curious about humans and other wildlife. | ||
== Slideshow == | == Slideshow == | ||
Latest revision as of 19:52, 20 March 2026
This page is all up-to-date. No further observations.
About
Whenever it's not a beaver, it might be a Coypu, also called Nutria in my region, but not so much in their place of origin in South America. The visual difference is mainly in the tail. If you see a large rodent who could be a beaver but it doesn't have the flat tail but one that looks a lot like a big rat's tail, that's a coypu. They live in the same place, though, which is mostly wetlands, swamps and rivers.
While they are cute in a big rodent way, coypus are an invasive species in Germany and Europe as a whole. They were imported for breeding on pelt farms but when fur fell out of fashion, some were let roam free, some escaped the abandoned farms. These days, nutrias are beloved for their ability to interact friendly with humans in many cities. People like feeding them and the nutrias love breeding in large numbers. While doing so, they fill the niche, the native Castor fiber used to fill - minus all the good, beavers do for rivers and water landscapes. Nutrias do not manage waterways or regulate tree growth, but they build their den where a beaver could live. Yet, they are very lovely, harmless animals who are mostly just curious about humans and other wildlife.
