Myocastor is a genus of rodents, family Echimyidae, functionally monotypic with a single living species, the nutria or coypu, Myocastor coypus, native to South America, along with three extinct fossil species; the genus temporal range extends from the Late Miocene to the present. Its name derives from Ancient Greek for rat-beaver. The nutria was previously classified with Caribbean hutias in family Capromyidae, then placed in its own family Myocastoridae, before molecular studies moved the genus into Echimyidae.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Scientific Name Member Count Band Era First Appeared Classification
Living or Extinct Connections
Child Taxon Of
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Myocastor coypus (Animal Diversity Web)
Parent Taxon Of
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Myocastor coypus (Animal Diversity Web)
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ10795801, descriptionView the Source 2. Myocastor - Wikipedia
Short description (article header)
Genus of rodent
Introduction
Myocastor (from Ancient Greek μῦς (mûs) 'rat, mouse', and κάστωρ (kástōr) 'beaver') is a genus of rodent that contains the living nutria (or coypu), as well as several fossil species.
View the Source3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Myocastor
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 1
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Myocastor
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Myocastor" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 8 ... "early_interval": "Tortonian"
Wikidata: Myocastor
Wikidata Q10795801, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Myocastor coypus (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyChild Taxon Of: Myocastoridae, Scientific Classification table, Family and Genus rows
Family Myocastoridae coypus and nutria Genus Myocastor coypu and nutria
Parent Taxon Of: Nutria, Scientific Classification table, Genus and Species rows
Genus Myocastor coypu and nutria Species Myocastor coypus coypu
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