Which mammal's natural habitat did not originally include the United States?
The nutria is a large, herbivorous, semi-aquatic rodent and the only member of the family Myocastoridae. Originally native to subtropical and temperate South America, it has since been introduced to North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa, primarily by fur ranchers. Although it is still valued for its fur in some regions, its destructive feeding and burrowing behaviors make this invasive species a pest throughout most of its range.
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What are your thoughts on this subject?
37 Comments
Bill Coe
Like all of the Xenarthra lineages, armadillos originated in South America. Due to the continent's former isolation, they were confined there for most of the Cenozoic. The recent formation of the Isthmus of Panama allowed a few members of the family to migrate northward into southern North America by the early Pleistocene, as part of the Great American Interchange
teacherchicky
The muskrat is the ONLY one that was originally native to the US! So your answer is ONLY partly correct! You should have chosen answers that were CLEARLY did not originate in the US; like kangaroo or elephant! It makes choosing the answer VERY difficult because three of them could have been correct!
Bob Blumrick
Charlie Bridges, They do look like a "cross"! A Beaver with a Rat's tail!
smwhalen
I learned something!!
Frank Sherwood
some answers require a why not reason for the other choices. This is one of those
Lynne Zeman
I didn't think Armadillos were native to the continental US.
Charlie Bridges
They look like a beaver a little. Or rat!
Charlie Bridges
While living along the Texas coast back in the '60's, the little nutria had a bounty on their head. The farmers were getting crops destroyed by the pest. Another government experiment gone wrong. They brought them in to clean irrigation canals but they didn't stop there!!! As soon as the canal was done, into the rice fields they went!!
Alicia Alvarado
Got it!
Stoic Kitty
They be good in gumbo.
patrhea
Never heard of, but interesting.
daveuniko
No jaguars in north america or u.s.
Marcella Kosse
The question was poorly written, but I probably would have missed it anyway unless I looked up the one I never heard of.
Charlie Chase
The nutria was introduced by man to the United States. The armadillo slowly migrated north to the U.S. naturally. While the question is poorly worded, the introduction of the nutria by man is the key.
majohnson
Armadillos were originally native to South America.
buhlemann
I agree with those who say the Armadillo did not cross the current border of Texas and Mexico until relatively recently. Its northward migration had halted at the Oklahoma line 45 years ago, but now it is found in mid-Missouri. They famously do not interact well with highways - I counted 15 at the side of the road in one 90 minute trip south to the Wineries around Ste. Genevieve.