Nutrias
The nutria () or coypu () (Myocastor coypus) is an herbivorous, semiaquatic rodent from South America.
Classified for a long time as the only member of the family Myocastoridae, Myocastor has since been included within Echimyidae, the family of the spiny rats.
The nutria lives in burrows alongside stretches of water and feeds on river plant stems.
Native to subtropical and temperate South America, it was introduced to North America, Europe and Asia, primarily by fur farmers. Although it is still hunted and trapped for its fur in some regions, its destructive burrowing and feeding habits often bring it into conflict with humans, and it is considered an invasive species in the United States. Nutrias also transmit various diseases to humans and animals, mainly through water contamination.
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