In this presentation, you will learn about an introduced species called Nutria. It will give you a brief description of the species, including what it looks like, how it reproduces, how it was introduced to other places, and what effect it has on people and ecosystems. Created on Google Slides

1. Nutria
An ‘Introduced Species’ by Megan Whitten

2. Name of Species
The Scientific name for this animal is called Myocastor Coypus, though they are more
commonly known as Nutria.
Kingdom: Animalia (animals) Order: Rodentia (Rodents)
Phylum: Chordata Family: Myocastoridae
Subphylum: Vertebrata (Vertebrates) Genus: Myocastor
Class: Mammalia (Mammals) Species: Coypus

3. Description
Nutria are about 24 inches long from the nose to the
base of the tail. The tail being about 12-17 inches
long itself, is round sparsely-haired.Nutria are
multiple shades of brown. They have 10 fingers and
10 toes, like humans, but their back feet are webbed
so they can swim.
Two noticeable features of Nutria are their long
whiskers, and the 4 large, orange incisors. Another
could be the location of a females mammary glands,
or teats. They locate on the upper side of them,
which allows the babies to nurse while the mother is
swimming.

4. Relative Sizes
As you see, Nutria are similar to
beavers, though they are are smaller,
and the beaver’s tail is flatter.
Nutria and Muskrat can sometimes get
mixed up, but Nutria are larger.
Muskrats front feet are only partially
webbed too.

5. Reproduction
Nutria reproduce quickly. Very quickly.
To give an example, here’s some math: Females usually have 2 litters per year. If the litters
were averaged, 5 would be the average size. So, that means you get about 10 babies each
year for every one female Nutria. Since Nutria live up to 4 years, that’s 4x10=40. 40 babies
each year.
And don’t forget that these creatures mature very quickly, between 5 and 6 months of age,
so the number of Nutria is much larger than you expect.

6. Distribution
Nutria are native to South America, their original range (or where they were normally
found before the 1930’s) was Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. In the
1930’s, they were introduced into Louisiana by the Fur Farming Industry both on accident
and on purpose.
You can find Nutria around the coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and even
areas in Oregon and Washington.

7. Effects on People
Nutria are hunted for their fur, which is sold to make products such as linings, though they
are like muskrats and are harder to sell.
In 1010, BBC and The New York Times reported that Nutria fur was promoted to being
socially acceptable to wear. A fashion show was held in Brooklyn, sponsored by the
Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program, a conservation body working to preserve
the swampland in Louisiana.

8. Effects on Ecosystems
In the 1940’s, Nutria were used for controlling overgrown weeds in aquatic areas. Though
this might have seemed like a good idea, people had to keep in mind that female Nutria
usually reproduce 2 litters per year. Which, as I explained in the Reproduction slide, they
reproduce very quickly. So, the plants they eat are around them don’t take much time to
disappear.