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| Alpha's "Nally Nutria" |
Alpha's Featured Character Oct 16 2011
"Nally Nutria"
A few interesting Nutria facts:
The Nutria (Myocastor coypus) is a rodent native to
South America, and was introduced to Europe, Asia, and the US for fur
farming. When the fur market crashed in the US (1940s) many were
released in the wild.
Adults are smaller than a beaver, but larger than a muskrat. They are
about 14 inches long with a round hairless tail almost as long as their
body or longer (12 to 17 inches). Nutria usually have dark brown fur.
They have 4 inch long whiskers and large incisors that are yellow-orange
to orange-red. Nutria average 16 to 18 pounds, but sometimes reach a
weight of 25 pounds.
Nutria are vegetarians and consume almost 25% of their weight daily.
Their favorite foods include: rushes, reeds, cattails, arrowhead,
square-stem spike rush, and sawgrass. They eat sugarcane, alfalfa, corn,
and rice if they can get them.
Nutria are semi-aquatic and spend most of their time in or near the
water. Nutria burrows often have entrances underwater. Nutria may use
elevated, platforms of dead vegetation instead of a burrow, or may nest
in dense vegetation.
One male usually has a "harem" of 2 to 3 females. Female nutria only
produce 6 litters of young in their lifetime. Litters average 4 to 5
young. The teats on a female nutria are high on the sides so young
nutria can nurse as the mother swims.
Fun Nutria Facts
- Nutria have 3 sets of fur: primary and secondary guard hairs, and under fur.
- Nutria are also called coypu, coypu rat, nutria rat, and swamp beaver.
- Nutria have valves in their mouths and noses that close so water doesn’t get in.
- At birth young nutria are fully furred.
You guys can see Nally & her friends here on our Alpha's Children's Alphabet Song Video!! Have Fun Learning Today!!!
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