An update on the distribution of the coypu, Myocastor coypus, in Asia and Africa through published literature, citizen-science and online platforms

The coypu, Myocastor coypus, has been introduced worldwide for fur farming and is widely recognized as one of the most invasive alien mammals of the world, affecting natural ecosystems, crops and possibly human health. Here we present a comprehensive up-to-date review of its distribution and status in Asia and Africa. Using a multi-source approach, we collected occurrences from published literature as well as from online biodiversity platforms (e.g. GBIF, iNaturalist), video sharing platforms, and local experts. Additionally, we used an ensemble modelling approach to predict the climatic suitability across Africa and Asia. We present an updated distribution map, including a total of 1506 spatially explicit records from 1973 to 2021, covering 1 African and 16 Asian countries. We find evidence for current populations in Kenya and five new countries since the last review of (Carter and Leonard, Wildl Soc Bull 30:162–175, 2002): Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, and identify main clusters of coypu occurrence in Western (including Transcaucasia) and East Asia. We show that warm temperate and Mediterranean areas on both continents are predicted to be climatically suitable for the coypu and highlight not only areas of possible spread, but also potential data gaps, i.e. with high suitability and low availability of concrete information (e.g. China, Southern Russia). We emphasize the importance of citizen involvement and the urgency for coypu-targeted studies in data-poor regions to obtain a clear picture of the geographical distribution and to better address management strategies.

Occurrence and subtyping of Blastocystis in coypus (Myocastor coypus) in China

Background Blastocystis is an anaerobic unicellular protist frequently detected in the gastrointestinal tracts of humans and animals worldwide. However, the prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis in the coypu (Myocastor coypus) population have not been reported so far. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, genetic characteristics, and zoonotic potential of Blastocystis isolates detected in coypus in China. Results A total of 308 fecal samples were collected from coypus in seven regions across China and subsequently examined. Blastocystis was detected in 44 (14.3%) specimens by nested PCR amplification of the small subunit ribosomal rRNA (SSU rRNA) gene. Further DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses resulted in the identification of two zoonotic known subtypes, ST4 and ST5, and an unknown subtype. ST4 was the most predominant subtype observed in the samples. ST5 infections were only observed in three coypus. Factors that were associated with prevalence of Blastocystis included age, geographical region and subtype. Interestingly, this is the first report about a potentially novel subtype infecting coypus. Conclusions This is the first comprehensive report of Blastocystis in M. coypus across a wide geographic range of China. A moderate degree of genetic divergence was observed. The presence of zoonotic subtypes in farmed M. coypus suggests that these animals have the potential to transmit blastocystosis to both humans and domestic animals. These findings provide a better understanding of the genetic diversity of Blastocystis in rodents and contribute towards the establishment of efficient blastocystosis control strategies in the investigated areas. Graphical abstract

Postnatal morphogenesis of the endocrine part of pancreas of nutria (Myocastor coypus)

The morphological characteristics of the endocrine pancreas of nutria in female and male nutria at the age of 1 day, 2 months, 4.5 months, 7.5 months and 12 months have a number of sex and age characteristics and differences. The number of islets in pancreatic lobules at 1 day of age in males is 3–6, and in females – 2–3. At 2 months of age, their number in males decreases to 2–4, and in females it increases to 5–6. From 4.5 months of age, the number of islands in females and males ranges from 2 to 3. At 1 day and 2 months of age, in nutria, islet division is recorded due to the cleavage and formation of new cell groups. The area of endocrine islets in females and males of nutria changes in a wave-like manner with age, having minimum values in 1-day and 4.5 months of age, and the maximum at 12 months of age. The nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio of endocrine islet insulocytes in nutria increases from 1 day to 2 months of life to their maximum values, and in subsequent age periods decrease and by the age of 12 months reaches its minimum.

First record of Myocastor coypus (Molina 1782) (Mammalia, Rodentia) for the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and its distribution in southern South America

This study presents the first record of Myocastor coypus in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, in addition to detailing its distribution within southern South America, highlighting where it is considered native or exotic in Brazil. On April 23, 2018, at approximately 18:00, an adult specimen with a 40 cm BL (body length) was registered after being run over on a side road near wetlands and a dam in a rural area in the municipality of Bataguassu, eastern state of Mato Grosso do Sul. It is not possible to state the origin of the M. coypus reported in the present study; whether it was introduced or dispersed naturally through the flooded areas of the Paraná River, since the species has records on the border of the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraná.

The Predictive Ability of Wildlife Value Orientations for Mammal Management Varies with Species Conservation Status and Provenance

Wildlife value orientations (WVOs) can predict consensus or controversy over wildlife-related issues and are therefore important for their successful management. We carried out on-site face-to-face interviews with Greek people (n = 2392) to study two basic WVOs, i.e., domination (prioritize human well-being over wildlife) and mutualism (wildlife has rights just as humans). Our sample was more mutualism-oriented than domination-oriented; however, domination was a better predictor of management acceptability than mutualism. WVOs were better predictors of the acceptability of lethal strategies (shooting, destruction at breeding sites, 11–36% of variance explained) relative to taking no action (9–18%) and non-lethal strategies (e.g., compensation, fencing, trapping, and relocating, 0–13%). In addition, the predictive ability of WVOs, mostly for accepting lethal strategies, increased with the increasing severity of the conflict (crop damage, attacking domestic animals, 11–29%; disease transmission, 17–36%) and depending on species conservation status and provenance (endangered native brown bear (Ursus arctos), 11–20%; common native red fox (Vulpes vulpes), 12–31%; common exotic coypu (Myocastor coypus), 17–36%). Managers should consider these findings for developing education and outreach programs, especially when they intend to raise support for lethal strategies. In doing so, they would be able to subsequently implement effective wildlife management plans.

Banco de dados da comunidade de mamíferos de médio e grande porte da Estação Ecológica do Taim, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil

O banco de dados inclui dados derivados de levantamentos de armadilhas fotográficas de mamíferos de médio e grande porte, realizados na Estação Ecológica de Taim, uma unidade de conservação federal no sul do Brasil. Todas as informações foram registradas entre março de 2002 e maio de 2003 como parte do projeto Estrada Viva, que avaliou os efeitos da estrada sobre a biodiversidade nesta área protegida. Foram instaladas armadilhas fotográficas em quatro áreas com diferentes graus de impactos antrópicos (próximo e distante da rodovia) e tipo de vegetação (campo e floresta). Foram identificadas 13 espécies de mamíferos de médio e grande porte; 11 nativas, uma exótica e outra doméstica. As espécies foram: Capivara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris; n = 481), Cachorro-do-campo (Lycalopex gymnocercus; n = 68), Cachorro-do-mato (Cerdocyon thous; n = 51), Ratão-do-banhado (Myocastor coypus; n = 29), Tatu-galinha (Dasypus novemcinctus; n = 24), Mão-pelada (Procyon crancrivorus; n = 7), Zorrilho (Conepatus chinga; n = 6), Lebre (Lepus capensis; n = 5); Lontra (Lontra longicaudis; n = 4); Gato-do-mato-grande (Leopardus geoffroyi; n = 4); Gambá-de-orelhas-brancas (Didelphis albiventris; n = 3); Gato doméstico (Felis catus; n = 2); Tatu-peludo (Euphractus sexcinctus; n = 2). Os dados permitem avaliar os efeitos da paisagem e da presença de estradas na composição da comunidade faunística da região.

Spatial Movement Patterns and Local Co-Occurrence of Nutria Individuals in Association with Habitats Using Geo-Self-Organizing Map (Geo-SOM)

Nutrias (Myocastor coypus) were imported to South Korea for farming in 1985; individuals escaped captivity and established wild populations in natural ecosystems in the late 1990s. Numerous studies have focused on their monitoring and management; however, information on the continuous movement of individuals is not available. In this study, telemetry data from field conditions were used to identify the nearest-neighbor distances of individuals in association with environmental factors, including plant type, land cover, and biological parameters. The minimum nearest-neighbor distances for the different sexes were, overall, according to the minimum distances for the same sex. Local co-occurrences of individuals, either of the same or different sex, were seasonal. Tall grasslands, followed by herbaceous vegetation, were associated with the co-occurrence of different sexes. Conversely, floating-leaved hydrophytes, followed by xeric herbaceous vegetation, were correlated with the co-occurrence of the same sex. Local female–male co-occurrences were negatively associated with male–male co-occurrences but not with female–female co-occurrences, suggesting male dominance in group formations. Movement and co-occurrence information extracted using Geo-self-organizing maps furthers our understanding of population dispersal and helps formulate management strategies for nutria populations.