Nonindigenous Mammals 
Nonindigenous Aquatic Mammal Distribution Information
One of the few known nonindigenous mammals
(Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia) is the nutria, Myocastor coypus (pic
102k). It is found in and around fresh and salt water ponds and swamps. Nutrias
were initially introduced into North America and farmed for their fur. Since their
introduction, some animals have escaped these farms and established localized
breeding populations from Texas to Virginia and in the Great Lakes area. Presently,
they are considered to be a pest species in some areas, disrupting irrigation
systems and destroying native aquatic vegetation and crops. Additionally, by disturbing
the balance of the native biota they provide an advantage for non-native plant
species to become established.
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Data Queries and Species Lists
Species Information
Nutria
(Gulf of Mexico Program)
Distribution
Maps
Nutria
This
page last updated on 10 October 2000
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