Coypu

The Coypu (Myocastor Coypus), also known as the river rat or nutria, is a large, herbivorous, semiaquatic rodent native to South America and introduced to North America, Europe, and Africa, as well as some parts of Asia including the Middle East. It is the only member of the Myocastoridae family. They became extinct in Britain and Scandinavia in 1978. The large orange teeth are clearly visible on coypus. They live in burrows alongside stretches of water. They feed on river plant stems. The name nutria is generally used in North America, Asia, and throughout the Soviet union. They are often mistaken as a beaver or muskrat. Its native range in South America are Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, and Brazil. Its subspecies are the Common, Bolivian, Chiloe island, and Patagonian coypus. It was first described in 1782 by Chilean naturalist Juan Ignacio Molina. He was born in Guaraculen, Chile in June 24th, 1740 and died in Bologna, Italy in September 12th 1829. This is a nonnative coypu in Slovenia in Europe.