Advanced Search
Map View
About Us
News
Contact
Bildirimde Bulun
Login
Data and Information System
Invasive Species Details
Nutria
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus and species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animalia | Chordata | Mammalia | Rodentia | Myocastoridae | Myocastor coypus |
Nutria
-
Myocastor coypus (Nutria) is a large rodent (5-9 kg; 40-60 cm body; 30-45 cm tail), superficially similar to a rat, with brown and yellow-brown fur and a cylindrical tail. The ear length is around 15 cm and has fringes. Its incisor teeth are distinct and brightly orange-yellow, with white spots at the tips (Woods et al., 1992; Carter and Leonard, 2002). It has a thin, long cylindrical feces, about 70 mm long (LeBlanc, 1994). Myocastor coypus (Nutria) is usually found near permanent waters, especially near reed beds and marshes/swamps. It is also found in coastal areas in rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and brackish marshes. Myocastor coypus (Nutria) has been used as a fur animal (Carter and Leonard, 2002) and as a source of meat. In some areas, it provides prey for crocodiles and other native predators. Native Distribution: It is native to South America south of 23 degrees latitude, including Argentina, Bolivia, southern Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay (Carter and Leonard, 2002). It was brought by humans for its fur from its original range in South America to fur farms. Its first introduction to the USA was in 1889 (Evans, 1970). Escapes from fur farms and releases have led to populations in Europe, North America, Northern Asia, Japan, East Africa, and Central Asia (Aliev, 1966a; Bar-Ilan and Mander, 1983; Corbet and Hill, 1980).
Type Description
Myocastor coypus (Nutria) is a large rodent (5-9 kg; 40-60 cm body; 30-45 cm tail), superficially resembling a rat, with brown and yellow-brown fur and a cylindrical tail. The ear length is around 15 cm and has fringes. Its incisor teeth are distinct and brightly orange-yellow, with white spots at the tips (Woods et al., 1992; Carter and Leonard, 2002). It has a thin, long cylindrical feces, about 70 mm long (LeBlanc, 1994).
Habitat
"Myocastor coypus (Coypu = Nutria) is generally found near permanent waters, especially near reed beds and marshes. It is also found in coastal areas, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and brackish marshes. Native Distribution: It is specific to South America, south of the 23rd parallel, including Argentina, Bolivia, southern Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay (Carter and Leonard, 2002). Known Distribution Areas: North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia (Carter, 2007).
Records of the distribution of Myocastor coypus have been reported from neighboring countries of Turkey, including Bulgaria (Mitchell-Jones et al., 1999), Greece, and Israel (Aliev, 1967; Ehrlich, 1966), Georgia and Russia (Ehrlich, 1966; Vinogradov and Argiropulo, 1941; Laurie, 1946), Armenia and Tajikistan (Ehrlich, 1966), Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan (Ehrlich, 1966; Vinogradov and Argiropulo, 1941), and Iran (Firouz, 2005). In Turkey, it is distributed in the west, around Edirne (Özkan and Kurtonur, 1994; Özkan, 1999), and in the east, in Kars and Iğdır (Mursaloğlu, 1973; Agsa, 1975; Kumerloeve, 1975a).
The Aras River originates from our country and flows into Azerbaijan outside our borders. It originates from the northern slopes within the boundaries of the Erzurum province of our country. It mixes with Azerbaijan's Kura River after passing through many places and flows into the Caspian Sea. The eastern populations of the coypu have settled in Turkey by escaping from fur farms in Armenia and Georgia using this river system.
The western population, on the other hand, has settled in Turkey by escaping from fur farms in Greece and Bulgaria using the Meriç and Tunca Rivers.
The coypu consists of two populations in Turkey, eastern and western."
Reproductive Information
Placental. Sexual. There is a significant relationship between winter severity and female reproduction. Prenatal embryo losses are high up to the 13-14th week of gestation. Sexual maturity is reached in 3-10 months. Gestation lasts 127-138 days. Number of embryos is 2-9; prenatal embryo losses are common in cold winter months and in females with poor health (Woods et al., 1992; Genesis Laboratories, Inc., 2002).
Lifecycle
Myocastor coypus (Nutria) breeds throughout the year; postpartum estrus occurs. Sexual maturity is reached in 3-10 months. Gestation lasts 127-138 days. The average litter size is 5-6 (2-9), prenatal embryo losses are common in cold winter months and in females with poor health (Woods et al., 1992).
Nutrition Information
Herbivorous, Myocastor coypus (Nutria) feeds on wetland plants and crops. Selective feeding causes significant declines in marsh vegetation. They occasionally feed on freshwater mussels. Like rabbits, they practice coprophagy (eating their own soft feces), having a large cecum where food passes through the digestive system twice; the first pass does not involve digestion, but the second pass incorporates the feces back into digestion (Woods et al., 1992, Carter and Leonard, 2002, Genesis Laboratories, Inc., 2002).
General Impact Information
"Myocastor coypus (Nutria) burrows weaken and cause the collapse of riverbanks and levees (Carter and Leonard, 2002). By feeding on the rhizomes and young shoots of marsh plants, they cause fragmentation of plant communities and can lead to erosion in coastal habitats (LeBlanc, 1994). Feeding on the rhizomes of sea oats in barrier islands along the Mississippi has led to dune erosion in these important habitats (GSMFC, 2005).
High-density nutria populations can convert marshes into open water by feeding on plants. The habitat destruction caused by nutria threatens rare marsh bird, fish, and invertebrate species. In Italy, nutria has significantly damaged the water lily (Nymphaea) cover in the Important Bird Area (IBA) of Valli di Argenta, leading to a low breeding success of whiskered terns (Chlidonias hybrida). The habitats of two national treasure species in Japan—a critically endangered dragonfly (Libellula angelina) and a vulnerable fish, the deep-bodied bitterling (Acheilognathus longipinnis) (Shirow Tatsuzawa, personal communication)—are threatened by nutria.
Nutria also feed on agricultural crops, including sugarcane, clover, and root crops (Carter and Leonard, 2002) (Woods et al., 1992)."
General Management Information
Wild populations of nutria are managed by shooting and trapping. For small and moderate-sized populations, eradication is preferred, but if eradication is not feasible, some level of control is usually necessary. High fur prices may help encourage sufficient hunting to control populations (Carter and Leonard, 2002). If the fur of the hunted animal can be sold at high prices, it may attract the interest of hunters. Eradication methods have been tried in various countries in the past, with effective results.
General Pathway Information
"Fur farms were introduced by humans from their original distribution in South America. The first introduction to the United States was in 1889 (Evans, 1970). Escapes and releases from fur farms have resulted in populations in Europe, North America, North Asia, Japan, East Africa, and Central Asia (Aliev 1966a; Bar-Ilan and Mander 1983; Corbet and Hill 1980).
Individuals escaping from fur farms were carried by rivers and established themselves in Turkey through natural reproduction. An increase in the number of individuals has been observed over the years in Edirne and its surroundings due to factors such as flooding and floods. Individuals living in Greece and Bulgaria have been transported to Turkey from time to time as a result of the overflowing of the Meriç, Tunca, and Arda Rivers."
Notes
This species has been nominated among the "World's 100 Worst Invaders" (http://www.iucngisd.org/gisd/100_worst.php). Following its first entry into Turkey, it has only managed to spread in a narrow area around Iğdır in the east and around Edirne in the west, spreading through the river and canal system.
LOCATIONS
IMPACT INFORMATION
"Myocastor coypus (Koypu=Su maymunu) yuvaları, nehirlerin ve bentlerin kıyılarını zayıflatır ve yıkılmasına neden olur (Carter ve Leonard, 2002). Bataklık bitkilerinin rizomları ve genç sürgünleriyle beslenerek, bitki topluluğunun parçalanmasına neden olur ve kıyı habitatlarında erozyona yol açabilir (LeBlanc, 1994). Mississippi bariyer adalarında deniz yulaf rizomları üzerinden beslenmesi, bu önemli habitatlarda kumul erozyonuna yol açmıştır (GSMFC 2005).
Yüksek yoğunluklarda su maymunu populasyonu, bitkilerle beslenerek bataklıkları açık suya dönüştürebilir. Su maymununun neden olduğu habitat tahribatı, nadir bulunan bataklık kuş, balık ve omurgasız türlerini tehdit eder. İtalya'da su maymunu, Önemli Kuş Alanı (IBA) olarak belirlenmiş Valli di Argenta'da nilüferlerin Nymphaea örtüsünü büyük ölçüde tahrip ederek bıyıklı sumru (Chlidonias hybrida) düşük sayıda üremesine neden olmuştur. Japonya'nın iki ulusal hazine türünün habitatları - kritik derecede nesli tükenmekte olan bir dragon fly (IUCN Tehdit Altındaki Türlerin Kırmızı Listesindeki Libellula angelina) ve bir balık deep-bodied bitterling, hassas (VU) (IUCN Tehdit Altındaki Türlerin Kırmızı Listesindeki Acheilognathus longipinnis) (Shirow Tatsuzawa, kişisel iletişim) su maymunu tarafından tehdit edilmektedir.
Su maymunu ayrıca şeker kamışı, yonca ve kök mahsuller dahil olmak üzere tarımsal ürünlerle (Carter ve Leonard 2002) beslenir (Woods ve diğerleri, 1992).
"
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
Wild populations of nutria are managed by shooting and trapping. For small and moderate-sized populations, eradication is preferred, but if eradication is not feasible, some level of control is usually necessary. High fur prices may help encourage sufficient hunting to control populations (Carter and Leonard, 2002). If the fur of the hunted animal can be sold at high prices, it may attract the interest of hunters. Eradication methods have been tried in various countries in the past, with effective results.