Mammals · Rodentia · Myocastoridae

Coypu

Myocastor coypus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It was introduced to dozens of countries on every continent except Antarctica for the fur trade, and is now one of the most damaging invasive species in the world.

Weight

5 kg – 10 kg

Size

43 cm – 70 cm

Lifespan

10 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

FreshwaterHerbivore Nocturnal Colonial Freshwater Mammal

38countries 13parks

Fun facts

It can eat up to 25% of its body weight in vegetation a day and do serious damage to dykes and crops.
It eats aquatic and emergent plants, roots and stems.
It lives in marshes and along the banks of lakes and slow-moving streams across much of South America.
ecologíaIt has been introduced to many countries outside its natural range for the fur trade, and in a good number of them has become an invasive species that damages dykes and canals.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Marshes and the banks of lakes and slow-moving streams across much of South America, including brackish water
Birth weight: Born fully developed, eyes open and already furred
Size at birth: Born fully developed
Sexual maturity: 6 months
Gestation / incubation: 127-139 days (~4-4.5 months)
Litter / clutch size: 1 to 13 young per litter (average 3-6), with up to 3 litters per year
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 19 years

Sources consulted: AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Animal Diversity Web; Britannica; USGS Species Profile; Texas Invasive Species Institute; Herrera Environmental (invasive species profile); California Species Project