ABSTRACT
Coypus are found in a variety of aquatic habitats including: wetlands, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. Habitat use at fine spatial scales differs according to habitat characteristics, food availability, predation risk
Figure 30.2 Global distribution of coypu
Figure 30.1 Myocastor coypus (coypu)
and hunting pressure. In linear habitats, coypus build burrow systems in the bank and forage in the water or close to it (<10m) when vegetation is available (D’Adamo et al, 2000; Guichón et al, 2003b, 2003c). The animals rarely move more than 100m away from the banks, whereas they can cover kilometres of a river longitudinally (e.g. Kim, 1980; Reggiani et al, 1993). Each burrow system averages 4.5 openings (range 1-17) and may extend over 0.3-25m of shoreline (Guichón et al, 2003c). The same main burrow systems can be used for more than ten years, even when flooding and droughts occurred throughout this period
(Guichón, M. L., pers. obs.). In Argentinean marshlands, coypus build nests in tall sedges and grasses growing in shallow water and forage mainly using a strip of approximately 4m width in the interface between areas with tall and short vegetation (Bó and Porini, 2005).
