Kingdom animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Mammalia
Order Rodentia
Family cavities
Genre Hydrochoerus
SpeciesHydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Capybaras are found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela; inhabiting forests and grasslands near water.
They are large animals, with thick brown fur. They can reach a hundred kilos, a meter and a half in length, and a half meter in height. For this reason, they are considered the largest rodents in the world.
The feet have membranes between the toes, facilitating swimming. In this regard, they are very agile, being able to stay up to five minutes underwater, without breathing. They drink, mate, regulate their body temperature and flee from predators in this environment and, therefore, are always close to it.
They have large, strong incisors, well adapted to the cut, and that keep growing. It is for this reason that such animals often gnaw rocks and tree trunks. They are herbivores, feeding on pastures, creeping plants, tree sprouts and algae; and, in situations of scarcity, they can invade and feed on plantations.
Such animals live in flocks of approximately thirty individuals, with a dominant male; and have a predominantly nocturnal habit. At about one year and two months old, they begin their reproductive activities. Gestation lasts around four months, generally giving rise to four offspring. The average life expectancy of capybaras, after birth, is fifteen years.
They are preyed upon by jaguars, alligators, snakes and piranhas. In addition, they are hunted and targeted commercially for their very tasty meat, leather and oil. Its fur and manure are also used, respectively, in the making of brushes and in fertilization processes.
In some regions, due to the absence of predators and the high food supply, their populations grow significantly. Perhaps this is why they are at minimal risk of extinction (least concern, LC), according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, IUCN.
By Mariana Araguaia
Graduated in Biology
