Capybara

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris · The capybara is the largest living rodent, a semiaquatic herbivore found in every South American country except Chile.

Also called Greater capybara, Carpincho.

Capybara
Photo: © Giles Laurent, gileslaurent.com, License CC BY-SA, CC BY-SA 4.0
Capybara
Photo: Clodomiro Esteves Junior, CC BY-SA 4.0
Capybara
Photo: Wilfredor, CC0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilyCaviidae
GenusHydrochoerus
SpeciesHydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Where it lives

Wetlands and riverbanks of South America east of the Andes.

Fun facts

  • Capybaras are superb swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes at a time.
  • Capybaras eat their own feces to get helpful gut bacteria and extract the most protein and vitamins from their food.
  • A female capybara tells males she is ready to mate by whistling through her nose.
  • Capybaras mate only in water, and a female who isn't interested can submerge or leave the water.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).