A large, semi-aquatic, south american rodent, also known as nutria, introduced into Britain for fur farming around 1929. Escaped animals established feral populations which were eradicated by 1989.  Widely introduced into North America, Europe, N Asia, and E Africa.

Coypu skulls have a wide infraorbital foramen, a deep jugal bone and a long paraoccipital process. The retained deciduous premolar is an important taxonomic feature at the family level.

1. Coypu skull, large male, lateral view.
 
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1. Coypu skull, large male, ventral view.
 
Click for larger image

Internet Resources

Standard references :
American Society of Mammalogists Monographs
Smithsonian / Wilson & Reeder's Taxonomic List
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web

Coypu Skull Measurements (defined)

Specimen

CB

ZW

JL

IW

PC

NL

UT

Sex

Comments

Area Collected: Orléans   Source: Trapping   Collector: B. Leleu  (all measurements in cm)

1

11.79

7.41

10.79

3.24

3.25

4.86

M

Large male, Illustrated above

2

10.98

7.68

3.36

4.28

2.89

F

3

10.24

6.88

9.25

2.99

4.03

2.88

4

10.45

7.30

9.36

3.22

4.03

2.99

5

9.67

6.44

7.93

2.79

3.67

2.78

Immature - 3rd molar erupting

6

10.14

6.25

9.18

2.81

2.83

4.12

2.97

7

11.22

7.86

10.52

3.31

3.42

4.03

3.04

8

11.55

7.50

10.39

3.35

3.29

4.67

2.90

9

11.02

7.43

10.03

3.18

3.01

4.17

2.92

10

10.60

6.46

9.45

2.88

3.00

4.17

2.93

Area Collected: Lancashire, UK    Collector: Courtesy of Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery (all measurements in cm)

1

10.1

9.40