This south american rodent is the largest rodent in the wolrd
The capybara is the largest rodent in the world with a height of 50 cm and a length ranging between 1,0 and 13,3 meters (39 and 51 in.) It weighs between 27 and 79 kg (59 and 174 lbs) and can live from 8 to 10 years. The short hair is brownish or beige. The large head supports tiny round ears and a long muzzle. The stout body is supported by short legs. The toes are slightly webbed with thick and robust claws.
It is an excellent swimmer and diver considered as an amphibious animal. It can live in a wide variety of habitat near water in order to seek refuge. It can swim considerable distances. In both sexes, there is a nasal gland on top of the muzzle, more visible on the male’s nose. It has a good vision, sense of hearing and smell, it can easily find food and spot a predator. It can be found mainly in south and central America from Panama to east of the Andes and north-eastern Argentina. This rodent feeds mostly on short grass and also on a variety of ground herbs, aquatic plants as well as on the bark of shrubs. It is a slow and selective diurnal animal which spends its day grazing and resting.
The capybara can live alone, in a family or in a group. The size of the group is influenced by the habitat conditions and the abundance of food. It will reproduce in water and a female gives birth to two to eight young, with an average of four per litter. The jaguar and the anaconda are the main predators of this species. The wild populations of capybaras are hunted by humans everywhere it is found for its skin and for the meat. In certain areas, there is commercial breeding of this species. The capybara is an abundant species, still widely distributed which does not have a particular conservation status.
Capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
