The teats are locate high on the sides of the nutria, which allows young nutria to nurse as the mother swims in the water. Front feet have five toes, including a small toe corresponding to our thumb. Hind feet are much larger, and unique in that all toes are connected by a skin web except for the toe corresponding to our little toe. Reproduction Nutria are apt to breed in any month of the year in North America. One male usually has 2 or 3 mates which share the same burrow.
Many females breed within two days after giving birth to a litter.
Litter sizes vary according to a cycle. The first litter is small, with 2 to 4 being born. The second litter is larger with 4 to 6 offspring. The third litter is smaller than the second, and the fourth again increases in size. For one reason or another, each litter is either larger or smaller than the litter previous preceding it, and according to a pattern.