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A large rodent, nearly as large as a beaver but with long, rounded, scaly, rat like tail; hind feet webbed; orange-colored incisors;
upperparts reddish brown; the under fur dark ; tip of muzzle and chin white.
Throughout much of their natural range in South
America, nutria prefer a semi aquatic existence in swamps, marshes, and along the
shores of rivers and lakes. In southern Chile and Tierra del Fuego they are
found mainly in the channels and bays separating the various islands off the
coast. They are almost entirely
nocturnal, consequently their presence in an area usually is revealed only by
their trails, feces, and lengths of cut vegetation that have been left in their
trails. These animals appear to breed throughout the year. Each adult
female produces two or three litters a year. The number of young per litter ranges from two to 11 and averages
about five. At birth the young are fully furred, and their eyes are open; they
are able to move about and feed upon green vegetation within a few hours.
Aquatic species native of South America has been in Florida since at
least 1955 and entered the state from fur farms and from some releases for
aquatic vegetation control. They have been reported over a wide area of
the state at various times, but populations seem ephemeral in most areas.
Current distribution in Florida is not known, although the animals are
consistently reported from the Brandon area.
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