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n. pl. nutria or nu·tri·as 1. A large semiaquatic rodent (Myocastor coypus) native to South America, having webbed feet and a long tail. It is widely raised for fur and has formed wild populations especially in the southern United States. 2. The light brown fur of the nutria. In both senses also called coypu. [American Spanish, otter, coypu, from Spanish, otter, from Old Spanish, from Latin lutra (probably influenced by Greek enudris, otter); see wed-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]  (click for a larger image) nutriaMyocastor coypus |
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