capybaras

Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) are the largest living rodents. Native to South America, they are highly social and semi-aquatic, typically found near bodies of water such as rivers, wetlands, and marshes.

They inhabit a range of environments from tropical forests to savannas and grasslands across countries from Venezuela and the Guianas to northern Argentina. Capybaras prefer landscapes with dense vegetation and easy access to water, which they use for cooling, feeding, and escape from predators.

Adults weigh 27–66 kilograms (60–146 pounds) and measure about 106–134 centimeters (42–53 inches) in length. They have a robust, barrel-shaped body, a short head, and eyes, ears, and nostrils positioned high on the skull. Their fur is typically brown or reddish-brown, and their hind feet are partially webbed to aid swimming.

Capybaras live in groups that usually number 10–20 individuals, though larger aggregations can form near abundant resources. Social behavior includes vocal communication, grooming, and mutual defense. They are herbivores, feeding mainly on grasses and aquatic plants, with occasional fruit or bark. Their digestive system relies on hindgut fermentation and, in some individuals, coprophagy to extract nutrients.

Reproduction occurs year-round in favorable areas. Gestation lasts about 140–150 days, with litters of 2–4 offspring (occasionally up to eight). Newborns are precocious and can swim within hours, and group members help care for the young.

Conservation status is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN due to a wide distribution and stable populations, though habitat loss and hunting pressure in some regions can impact local numbers. Capybaras are also kept in captivity in zoos and, in some areas, appear in the pet trade under regulation.