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What the sources say

CoypuMyocastor coypus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Coypu profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 46 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

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Source
01

USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database

Myocastor coypus (nutria). USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database.

The page saysA webbed-footed marsh rodent with its eyes, ears and nostrils on top of its head.
The source saysThe first four toes of the hind feet are webbed for swimmingNote: tagline; eyes/ears/nostrils below
The page saysits eyes, ears and nostrils on top of its head
The source saysThe eyes, ears, and nostrils of M. coypus are all located superiorly (towards the top) on the cranium, reflecting their aquatic life historyNote: tagline
The page saysEyes, ears and nostrils all sit on top of the skull
The source saysThe eyes, ears, and nostrils of M. coypus are all located superiorly (towards the top) on the cranium, reflecting their aquatic life historyNote: stats.superpower
The page saysa layout that suits a life spent in the water
The source saysThe eyes, ears, and nostrils of M. coypus are all located superiorly (towards the top) on the cranium, reflecting their aquatic life historyNote: stats.superpower
The page saysIts eyes, ears and nostrils all sit towards the top of the skull, which suits a life in the water.
The source saysThe eyes, ears, and nostrils of M. coypus are all located superiorly (towards the top) on the cranium, reflecting their aquatic life history
The page saysThe coypu, called the nutria in the United States, is a big semi-aquatic rodent
The source saysNutria ( Myocastor coypus) are large, semi-aquatic rodents
The page saysWebbing joins four toes on each hind foot for swimming, while the fifth toe stays free for grooming.
The source saysThe first four toes of the hind feet are webbed for swimming, while the fifth digit is free and used for grooming
The page saysA wild adult measures 47 to 57 centimetres from nose to rump, and its tail averages 37 centimetres.
The source saysThe body length of wild adult Myocastor coypus (excluding the tail) was documented by Woods et al. (1992) to range in size from 47 to 57 centimeters (cm). The tails of M. coypus in this size range averaged a length of 37 cm
The page saysMales can reach 9.1 kilograms (20 pounds) and females 8.2 kilograms (18 pounds).
The source saysMale M. coypus may grow to 9.1 kg (20 pounds), while females reach a lower weight of 8.2 kg (18 pounds)
The page saysIt looks like a beaver, but white whiskers and a big, rounded tail give it away.
The source saysThe most conspicuous identifying features of M. coypus are their white whiskers, and large, rounded tail.
The page saysA beaver's tail is broad and flat.
The source saysThe tail differs from Beavers, which have broad, flat tails
The page saysIts native range covers South America south of latitude 23 degrees, taking in parts of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.
The source saysMyocastor coypus is native to South America south of the 23° latitude in the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chili, Paraguay, and Uruguay
The page saysIt prefers freshwater marshes, but it lives in many types of wetlands, including bayous, drainage canals, swamps and coastal brackish and saltwater marshes.
The source saysWhile freshwater marshes are their preferred habitat (Holm et al. 2011), M. coypus inhabit many types of wetlands such as bayous, rivers, impoundments, farm ponds, drainage canals, and swamps, as well as brackish and saltwater marshes in coastal regions
The page saysFreshwater marshes and many other wetlands.
The source saysM. coypus inhabit many types of wetlands
The page saysIt mostly eats roots, rhizomes and tubers, which it digs up with dexterous forepaws
The source saysMyocastor coypus use their dexterous forepaws to excavate the roots and stems of plants while grazing. Although they occasionally consume the entire plant, their primary forage are roots, rhizomes, and tubers
The page saysRoots, rhizomes and tubers, dug up with its forepaws, plus other marsh plants.
The source saysThey are opportunistic feeders that forage on emergent, floating, and submersed plant species
The page saysit eats insects incidentally as it feeds
The source saysM. coypus incidentally consume insects as they feed on plants
The page saysWhen food is plentiful it tends to be nocturnal, with activity peaking near midnight.
The source saysWhen food is abundant, M. coypus tend to be nocturnal with peak activity occurring near midnight.
The page saysThe first recorded US introduction was in California in 1899, but that population failed to reproduce and establish.
The source saysThe first recorded introduction of Myocastor coypus within the United States was in 1899, in Elizabeth Lake, California, for the purpose of fur farming; however, this population failed to reproduce and establish
The page saysLater populations took hold in Louisiana and California
The source saysMyocastor coypus later established populations in the wetlands of Louisiana and California
The page saysbusinesses selling them as "weed cutters" spread them further across the country
The source saysDispersal of M. coypus throughout the U.S. was amplified by businesses selling them as “weed cutters” to control undesirable vegetation
The page saysWhen the fur market crashed in the 1980s, far fewer were trapped in Louisiana, which left the population's growth largely unchecked.
The source saysThe crash of the fur market in the 1980‘s lowered the demand and value of pelts, and in turn greatly reduced the number M. coypus harvested. This left the growth of M. coypus populations largely unchecked
The page sayseach animal removes about 15.1 kilograms of carbon from a marsh every year
The source saysIt is estimated that the amount of carbon removed from a marsh by one M. coypus each year is approximately 15.1 kg.
The page saysits burrows can damage levees and irrigation canals
The source saysLevees and irrigation canals used for water control are often damaged from burrows created by M. coypus
The page saysThe USGS uses the common name nutria for Myocastor coypus
The source saysMyocastor coypus (Molina, 1782) Common name: nutria
The page saysWild adults run 47 to 57 centimetres long without the tail, with a tail that averages 37 centimetres.
The source saysto range in size from 47 to 57 centimeters (cm). The tails of M. coypus in this size range averaged a length of 37 cm
The page saysMales may reach 9.1 kilograms, and females about 8.2 kilograms.
The source saysMale M. coypus may grow to 9.1 kg (20 pounds), while females reach a lower weight of 8.2 kg (18 pounds)
The page saysIts burrows can weaken levees, roadways and irrigation canals
The source saysBurrows can weaken the structure of highway bridges, culverts, roadways, and building foundations
The page saysIts burrows can weaken levees, roadways and irrigation canals
The source saysLevees and irrigation canals used for water control are often damaged from burrows created by M. coypusNote: faq 4: levees and canals; roadways in the claim above
The page saysits grazing reduces the diversity of plant species in the wetlands it lives in
The source saysTheir grazing has been documented to reduce the diversity and richness of plant species within the wetlands they inhabit
The page saysA coypu's eyes, ears and nostrils all sit towards the top of the skull, which suits a life in the water
The source saysThe eyes, ears, and nostrils of M. coypus are all located superiorly (towards the top) on the cranium, reflecting their aquatic life historyNote: vibe.reason

Source
02

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Myocastor coypus (coypu). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysThe front teeth, the incisors, are broad and orange.
The source saysThe incisors are broad, with orange-pigmented anterior surfaces.
The page saysNative to South America; escapees now live in North America and Europe.
The source saysis native to South America
The page saysescapees now live in North America and Europe
The source saysAs a result of escapes and liberations from fur farms, feral populations now occur in Europe, Asia, and North America.
The page saysDemand for its fur led people to introduce it almost worldwide
The source saysA demand for nutria fur developed in the early 19th century and has continued to the present. For this reason, nutria have been introduced almost worldwide.
The page saysescapes and releases from fur farms left wild populations in Europe, Asia and North America
The source saysAs a result of escapes and liberations from fur farms, feral populations now occur in Europe, Asia, and North America.
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web lists the coypu under the same scientific name with nutria as the alternative name.
The source saysMyocastor coypus coypu (Also: nutria)

Source
03

AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15

AnAge entry for Myocastor coypus. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15.

The page saysFemales are sexually mature at 152 days
The source saysFemale sexual maturity 152 days
The page saysa newborn weighs about 225 grams
The source saysWeight at birth 225 g
The page saysThe longevity database AnAge lists a record of 19 years in captivity, set by one zoo animal.
The source saysMaximum longevity 19 years (captivity)Note: Observations: one zoo specimen lived for 19 years
The page saysAnAge gives a maximum of 19 years in captivity, based on one zoo specimen.
The source saysMaximum longevity 19 years (captivity)Note: Observations: One zoo specimen lived for 19 years
The page saysweightKg: 7.85
The source saysAdult weight 7,850 gNote: task #1246; AnAge adult weight; ADW males 9.1 kg, females 8.2 kg, all Light (0.1 to 10 kg). Name guess would have been Medium.

Source
04

Gosling & Baker 1989

Gosling & Baker (1989). The eradication of muskrats and coypus from Britain. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.

The page saysBritain had its own escapees, introduced in the 1920s for their pelts.
The source saysBoth specks were introduced in the 1920s to be farmed for pelts and feral populations became established following escapes.
The page saysThe eradication campaign that began in 1981 used a long study of the animal's ecology, and added an incentive bonus scheme for trappers, who would otherwise be reluctant to work themselves out of a job.
The source saysThe eradication campaign which started in 1981, was based on a long tem study of population ecology.
The page saysadded an incentive bonus scheme for trappers, who would otherwise be reluctant to work themselves out of a job
The source saysAn incentive bonus scheme was designed to overcome the problem that trappers would be reluctant to work themselves out of a job.

Source
05

Ojeda, Bidau & Emmons 2016

Ojeda, Bidau & Emmons (2016). Myocastor coypus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T14085A115119712.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).Note: GBIF copy of the Red List

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.