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| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Myocastor coypus |
The nutria or coypu (Myocastor coypus) is a large, nocturnal, semiaquatic rodent native to South America, but now also present in Europe, Asia, and North America, in some regions of which it is considered a pest.
It somewhat resembles a very large rat in appearance, typically 5 to 10 kg and 0.8 to 1.4 m long in adulthood.
They were imported to many parts of the world due to their highly desired fur, but have since become pests in many areas, destroying aquatic vegetation, irrigation systems, and displacing native animals.