Wildlife Wednesdays: Capybara
By: Madeline Davis, researched by Hal Dittbrenner
Scientific Name: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Classification:
- Kingdom: Mammalia
- Class: Rodentia
- Family: Hydrochaeridae
Population Number: Stable
With their friendliness and cuddly appearance, the capybara has become a very popular animal in recent years. People around the world are captivated by its cute and calm nature. Pictures and videos of these creatures constantly circulate the internet, highlighting the adorableness of them. But there is more than just their appearance that makes the capybara interesting.
Capybaras are the largest living rodent in the world. Most of the capybara population is found in South America, with over 1 million living in Brazil alone. They live in densely forested areas near bodies of water, as well as flooded savannas and wetlands. They may also choose to live along rivers in the tropical rainforest. Capybaras often swim and soak in water, so they ensure that their habitats are near a body of water.
Capybaras have a barrel-shaped body and a short head, giving them their iconic look. Their eyes, ears, and noses are found on the top of their head, allowing capybaras the ability to keep most of their bodies underwater while still retaining their senses. Like other rodents, their front teeth grow continuously to account for the wear of eating grass. Capybaras are herbivores and will eat most plants both above and below water. To help digest their vegetarian diet, capybaras have a high number of specific microbes in them. This results in them producing protein-rich waste. Capybaras will then engage in coprophagic behavior, which involves them eating their own feces. By doing so, they gain additional nutrients and improve their digestion track.
Capybaras’ fur can change in color depending on where it is placed on the body. They typically have reddish-brown fur on the upper part of their body. In the lower parts and underneath them, capybaras’ fur is usually more yellow-brown. Their fur is long and brittle, allowing them to quickly dry off after leaving the water. The animals’ bodies are quite heavy, typically weighing between 77 and 146 pounds. They also can grow substantially in size. Adult capybaras can grow to 3.48 to 4.40 feet in length, and stand 20 to 24 feet tall!!
Capybaras are known to be friendly toward humans and other animals, and this friendliness exists within their own species as well. Capybaras are highly social, and can be found in groups as large as 100 individuals. Despite this, the average capybara group usually consists of 10-20 individuals.
The water is where capybaras love to spend their time. They are excellent swimmers, and can remain completely submerged for up to five minutes. Capybaras use this strategy to evade predators. Their predators include jaguars, pumas, anacondas, and caimans. By escaping into the water, capybaras can utilize their strong swimming abilities against their predators.
With their love of the water, capybaras can spend up to 75% of the time in or around water. The water allows them a place to rest and cool down, as well as the opportunity to simply swim around for entertainment. In the 16th century, the Catholic Church actually classified the water loving capybara as a fish, allowing the meat to be eaten on Fridays and during Lent. That designation remains in place even today.
As wetlands get destroyed, however; capybaras are put at risk. Luckily, capybaras are currently not classified as endangered, but this could change as deforestation and habitat destruction increases. Capybara populations are also at risk of falling victim to illegal poaching for their meat and fur.
For more information about capybaras, check out our sources:
https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/capybara-population-by-country