Myocastor coypus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	MYOCASTORIDAE

Scientific Name:

Myocastor coypus

Species Authority:

(Molina, 1782)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Coypu, Nutria

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Lessa, E., Ojeda, R., Bidau, C. & Emmons, L.

Evaluator/s:

McKnight, M. (Global Mammal Assessment Team) & Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority)

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining within its native range at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is native to South America, and has been introduced to North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia (not all these introduced locations are mapped here) (Bertolino 2005). It is patchily distributed throughout its historic range in association with mesic habitats and water bodies. Its distribution in the Patagonian steppe is likely the result of human introduction (Ojeda, Lessa, and Bidau pers. comm.).
Countries:	Native: Argentina; Bolivia; Brazil; Chile; Paraguay; Uruguay Introduced: Japan; United States
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	It is increasing in number, and is considered a pest in parts of its range and has been the subject of eradication measures (Bertolino 2005).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This species prefers habitats near water, and is rarely observed more than 100 m away from rivers (Bertolino 2005).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this species (Bertolino 2005). In parts of Argentina, however, it is considered endangered. Cattle ranchers have eliminated it from much of the centre of its native range.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this species (Bertolino 2005). In parts of Argentina, however, it is considered endangered. Cattle ranchers have eliminated it from much of the centre of its native range.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species occurs in protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

This species occurs in protected areas.

Citation:	Lessa, E., Ojeda, R., Bidau, C. & Emmons, L. 2008. Myocastor coypus. In: IUCN 2009. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 09 February 2010.
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