What is the difference between nutria and muskrat: the main similarities and what is the difference

Inexperienced fur breeders can immediately find it difficult to understand how the nutria differs from the otter and muskrat. Animals are very similar to each other, spend a lot of time in the water and belong to the rodent family. But there are also different features, external and others. Each group of mammals has its own characteristic habits, features of reproduction, addiction to food and habitats.

Description of animals

Outwardly, the animals look like large rats. Long tail, sharp teeth and claws help to survive in difficult conditions. Rodents feel comfortable both on land and in the aquatic environment.

Nutria

The nutria is a fairly large animal weighing up to 12 kilograms, which is also called the swamp beaver. Other characteristics of the rodent:

1. The body is strong and long (0.5 meters excluding the tail), and the head is small.
2. Orange fangs.
3. Hind paws with webbed feet, forelimbs with 5 toes.
4. Color - brown, on the belly the shade of fur is lighter.

The skin of a nutria is several times stronger than that of a fox, and the villi are longer than those of a rabbit. The best characteristics of the "fur coat" in winter. Thanks to the membranes, the nutria keeps well on the surface of the water, and can also dive.

An animal can stay at depth for almost 10 minutes. The special structure of tightly closing lips and the presence of locking muscles in the nose allows you to gnaw plant trunks in the water.

The animals do not like the cold, despite the thick fur. Nutria avoid regions where frosty weather sets in for a long time. Animals cannot find food under the snow.

Otter

Otters are predatory animals. They lead a watery lifestyle. The muzzle of the animals is elongated, like the body. The body reaches almost a meter in length. Characteristics:

1. Short webbed feet.
2. Scaly tail from 26 to 55 centimeters.
3. The fur is dark with a brown tint on the back and gray with silvery tints on the belly.

The density of the cover of the otter is higher than that of the nutria. Each square centimeter contains at least 50 thousand villi. Water is not able to wet a fluffy skin. This ability allows the animal not to freeze even in ice water. Otter fur is valued all over the world. To obtain valuable raw materials, animals are specially bred in captivity.

Muskrat

Muskrats, or musky rats, belong to a subclass of voles. Outwardly, the animals look like large gray rats. Distinctive Features:

1. Oval body 35 centimeters long and flattened tail of the same size.
2. Webbing on the hind limbs.
3. Small head with a blunt muzzle on a short neck. The ears are almost invisible due to the thick fur.
4. Lips tightly fit incisors. Like nutria, muskrats can feed underwater.
5. The skin is dark on top and gray with blue in the lower part of the body.

The muskrat uses its scaly tail as a rudder while moving through the water.

Key similarities and differences

The heaviest rodent in the trinity is the nutria. Adult males weigh about 12 kilograms. Quite a bit behind are otters, whose body weight reaches 10 kilograms. Muskrats stand out among their brethren in this indicator. The animals are very light - only 1.8 kilograms. There are similarities and differences in other features as well.

What do they eat?

The eating habits of the animals are quite similar, but not in everything.

DietNutriaThe basis of nutria feed is vegetation on the banks of lakes or rivers, as well as water. Sometimes the animal eats frogs, shellfish or fish.MuskratThe animal also eats plant foods.Prefers reeds and thistle, loves reed, cattail or arrowhead. It catches newts or leeches, but only if it lacks green food. Animal food occupies no more than 5% of the total food supply.OtterLittle predators prey on birds. Ducks and waders often fall prey to otters. But more often animals catch river inhabitants. Do not bypass lizards, newts and frogs. In search of food, the animals are able to overcome up to 15 kilometers even in winter.

Animal name

Otter prefers to eat animal food, unlike the other two brothers. There is also a difference between the musky rat and the swamp beaver. The former build burrows in which they store winter food resources. The latter never store food.

Where they live

The difference between nutria and muskrat is manifested in relation to the cold. Swamp beavers do not tolerate frost, musky rats feel good in severe weather. The otter is not afraid of the harsh winter either.

Animals live:

Name	Habitat
Nutria	From South America, animals were brought to Europe and the regions of the Caucasus. There are also animals in Kyrgyzstan.
Muskrat	Musk rats are also considered to be the birthplace of America, only the northern part of the continent. Muskrats are also common in the countries of Eurasia. In Russia, they live in Kamchatka, the Far East and Siberia.
Otter	Distributed in Europe. Inhabits North Africa and Asian regions. Magadan, Chukotka and other areas have large populations of otters.

Nutrias usually settle near water bodies. Animals form small colonies up to 15 individuals. Burrows are dug in steep slopes along the banks.

When swamp beavers eat most of the vegetation, groups find other areas to live in.

Muskrats also prefer densely overgrown areas along rivers. The entrance to the burrow is usually hidden under water. Animals also equip dwellings in reed beds. Animals do not live in packs. Separate families occupy different feeding areas.

Otters lead a solitary life. Similarity with other members of the family is manifested in the preference for areas overgrown with vegetation near water. In such places it is easy to catch fish and find a secluded shelter.

Features of reproduction

The gestation periods for all three rodents are different. There are other differences as well:

NutriaMarsh beavers bear cubs for 130 days. Sexual hunting occurs once a month. There are up to 6 babies in a litter. Females give birth three times a year.MuskratPregnancy lasts only a month. They breed throughout the year in warm regions, in places with a cold climate - in spring and summer. At one time, the female gives birth to up to 8 individuals. Each litter contains up to 4 cubs.Otters mate all year round.

Mammal Species	Reproduction

Otters are characterized by short gestation periods. In favorable conditions, offspring are born after 63 days. In frosty weather and with poor food, females do not give birth. Animals begin to whelp when circumstances change for the better. Sometimes pregnancy lasts 270 days. Farmers show interest in animals because of the valuable fur. Coypu is also bred for he althy meat.

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