Nutria (Myocastor coypus)

Invasive?

The nutria is a rodent from South America, which was introduced to Europe mainly for fur farming. It feeds on stems of aquatic plants and thus destroys reed zones and fish nurseries. It also plunders the nests of marsh birds. 

Where?

The nutria lives on the banks of wide rivers or lakes and also in other wetlands. They build a den at the water's edge and defend their territory. Often nutria live together in pairs or groups. It can often be observed swimming or gnawing on the shore.

Aussehen?

Nutria have a yellow-brown to black colored fur, their nail teeth are orange. The long rat-like tail is scaled and somewhat hairy. They have small ears and long thick whiskers, between the 1st and 4th toe of the hind feet are webbed.

Distribution in Luxembourg: https://neobiota.lu/myocastor-coypus/

Please report the species, if you have seen it, via neobiota.lu

"Stéphanie Baumard - Ragondin (Myocastor coypus) - Camargue" by Images pour des mots is marked with CC0 1.0

"Beverrat (Myocastor coypus)" by Hennie Cuper is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0