Capybara
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris · Mammal, Vertebrate, Warm-blooded, Wild
Animal Family
Family Caviidae, Order Rodentia, Class Mammalia
Animal Category
Wild Prey
Breed / Variety
Not applicable; single wild species with minor regional variations
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, with a stable population trend. They are widely distributed and adaptable, though locally threatened by hunting for meat and hide, as well as habitat loss in certain agricultural regions.
About This Creature
The capybara is the largest living rodent in the world. It has a heavy, barrel-shaped body with a blunt muzzle, short legs, and virtually no tail. Adults typically weigh between 35 and 66 kg (77 to 146 lbs) and stand about 50 to 62 cm (20 to 24 inches) tall at the shoulder. Their fur is coarse, sparse, and reddish-brown to yellowish-brown on the upper parts, turning reddish-orange underneath.
Physical Characteristics
Robust body structure, slightly webbed toes to aid in swimming, small eyes and ears located near the top of the head so they remain exposed while the animal is submerged, and continuously growing incisor teeth adapted for gnawing tough aquatic plants and grasses.
Behavior & Temperament
Highly social animals that live in groups averaging 10 to 20 individuals, led by a dominant male. They are primarily crepuscular, being most active around dawn and dusk. They communicate through a variety of clicks, whistles, and barks, and spend a significant amount of time wallowing in water to escape heat and predators.
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
South America, natively found across most countries east of the Andes, particularly near major river basins like the Amazon, Orinoco, and La Plata
Habitat
Wetlands, flooded grasslands, and along the borders of rivers and lakes; semi-aquatic and terrestrial
Diet & Nutrition
Herbivore; diet consists mainly of grasses and aquatic plants, supplemented by fruit and tree bark. They practice coprophagy (reingesting their own feces) to extract maximum nutritional value from their fibrous plant diet through microbial digestion.
Lifespan & Health
Lifespan is typically 8 to 10 years in the wild, though rarely exceeding 4 years due to heavy predation by jaguars, pumas, caimans, and anacondas. In captivity, they can live up to 12 years. Females give birth to litters averaging 4 pups after a gestation period of approximately 130 to 150 days.
Special Characteristics
Exceptional swimmers capable of remaining submerged for up to five minutes. They are known for their extremely docile temperament, often allowing other animals and humans to approach them closely.
Ecological Information
Acts as a primary consumer and a major food source for large predators in South American wetland ecosystems. Their grazing helps maintain grassland dynamics, and they provide ecosystem services through nutrient cycling between aquatic and terrestrial habitats.