Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
MYOCASTORIDAE - COYPU
A single species of aquatic, superficially beaver-like rodent with a long, thin, sparsely-haired tail. The pelage is long with a dense underfur much valued by the fur-trade (where it is known as “nutria”). The body is thickset, with short legs, the head square with small eyes and small rounded ears. Both feet have five digits, the enlarged hindfeet webbed between four digits with the thumb free. The forefeet are smaller with five thin, strong nails. Deciduous premolars are retained throughout life.
REFERENCES
Diaz MM & Barquez RM 2002 - Los Mamíferos de Jujuy, Argentina - LOLA
Emmons LH & Feer F 1999 - Mamíferos de los Bosques Húmedos de América Tropical - FAN Bolivia
Redford K 1992 - Mammals of the Neotropics Vol 2: The Southern Cone Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay - University of Chicago Press.
