13. MAMMALIA

Myocastor coypus (Molina)

Nutria; coypu. (Capromyidae). Native of temperate parts of South America; introduced into various parts of U.S.A. and established in many states. Cultivated in fresh waters in Israel, Poland, Cameroon, etc. for control of weeds and as food. Also provides manure in pond. This large South American aquatic rodent shows considerable promise as biological weed control agent in fishery waters.

Trichechus manatus manatus Linnaeus
Syn. Manatus manatus (Linnaeus)

Manatee; West Indian manatee. (Trichechidae). Coast and coastal rivers of West Indies and adjacent waters and southeast coast of U.S.A. to northern South America. Cultivated in reservoirs in British Guiana to clear weeds. Voracious grass feeder. Perfectly docile, easily bruised and seemingly very slow in reproduction. Can easily be drowned. Harmless to fishes and other aquatic animals. Average lenght: about 215 cm. Females give birth to single calf. Gestation period: about six months.

FAO FISHERIES TECHNICAL PAPERS (IN)

This is one of a group of Technical Papers (see inside front cover) giving information on relevant research activities of fisheries institutions in the field of resources survey and evaluation, as well as listing biological data collected and made available to the Department of Fisheries to be stored and maintained by the FAO Fishery Data Centre. Some of these technical documents are inventories of institutions collecting relevant biological data for stock assessment studies, data on marine and freshwater organisms with culture potentials, communicable fish diseases, etc. Extra copies of this document can be obtained from:

Fishery Resources and Environment Division
FAO, Via delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome, Italy

(Papers issued since January 1974)