CAPYBARA Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Redlist status: Least concern
The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest living rodent in the world and is native to South America. Its close relatives include guinea pigs and rock cavies, and it is more distantly related to the agouti, the chinchilla, and the coypu.
The capybara is semi-aquatic and lives near bodies of water. It is a highly social species and can be found in groups as large as 100 individuals, but usually lives in groups of 10–20 individuals. Capybaras have a lifespan of 8-12 years.
Adults grow to 106 to 134 cm long and stand 50 to 62 cm tall at the withers (shoulders). Capybaras may weigh 35 to 66 kg with females being slightly heavier than males. The largest capybara recorded was 91 kg for a wild female from Brazil
Capybaras have slightly webbed feet and their hind legs are slightly longer than their forelegs; they have three toes on their rear feet and four toes on their front feet.
Capybara jaws do not hinge perpendicularly so they grind food front to back rather than side to side. As is the case with other rodents, the front teeth of capybaras grow continually to compensate for the constant wear from eating grasses; their cheek teeth also grow continuously.
Capybaras do not have the ability to synthesize vitamin C and must have their diets supplemented.
Capybara gestation is 130–150 days, and litters of four capybaras young are average, but may produce between one and eight in a single litter. Within a week, the young can eat grass, but continue to suckle—from any female in the group—until weaned around 16 weeks.