the Nutria, named also swamp-beavers, today world-wide as a fur-supplier in countless farms held, was given a home originally only in the restrained South America. Like some other fur-bearer, also this type of animal became in the 19. Century so strongly decimates that one had to seize precautions and moved on to breeding the Nutria in farms in order to satisfy the continuous demand of the fur-industry.
Shape With a length until 63 cm and a tail-length until 42 cm, the Nutria is a quite big rodent. it can become heavy until 9 kg. The yields, satin sub-hairs of the red-brownish fur are covered by the long, rough deck-hair. The clumsy shape reminds of those of the beaver. In contrast to the beaver, however, the Nutria possesses a trick-rounds "rat-tail."
Way of life Serve the Nutria waters of all the type as habitat; it leads an amphibious way of life. Swimming masters it master-like the swimming-skins do it good turns with what at the rear-feet. it can dive less well. As shelter, an Erdbau is dug normally at the shore, more rarely a superficial reed-nest positioned. Often, Nutrias meet to a small colony.
Food The food-search happens predominantly in the twilight. Eats the Nutria plants mainly; as Beikost, however, also insects, mussels and other small animals are not spurned. With the big appendix, it is put in very good for the reception and digestion of large quantities of cellulose-containing food.
Reproduction Nutrias multiply quickly. Since they are quite modest also in the nutrition beside it, a farm-attitude is very much simple. 2-3-once, up to 13 young (usually 4-7) come to the world in the year. they already are far developed in the birth.
The order of the teats is uncommon with the dam. they lie at the body-sides so far above that the boys can suck swimming in the water.
Neglected Nutrias From fur-animal-farms of broken out Nutrias is also with us at some places (Z). B. Schleswig-Holstein, become native. These free-living animals stretch however only little, since has to suffer it very much from strict winters, in which the bare tails freeze to death easily. Free-living Nutrias become since the person out for a walk knows it usually not at all, often with muskrats or beavers confuses. With nearer look, however, they are easy at the, to recognize tail, trick-rounds.
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