by Kevin R Newell

Created on: April 21, 2009   Last Updated: August 18, 2011

Capybara

Classification Kingdom - Animalia

Phylum - Chordata

Class - Mammalia

Order - Rodentia

Family - Caviidae

Description

The Capybara are usually reddish brown in colour and can grow to a length of up to 4 feet. Some of the bigger adults can weigh up to 70 kg whilst smaller adults may weigh up to 50kg. They have a large rounded body and rodent like face and head. Oddly they do not have a tail and ash they spend lots of time in rivers and ponds they have developed webbed feet. They have large eyes and small ears on the tops of their head so they can swim in the waters they live in. They live in large groups for protection and to be social with each other and these groups can reach up to 100 in some rare examples. The group is controlled by one dominant male. Thanks to their webbed feet they are excellent swimmers and also excellent divers when they search for food.

Habitat

The Capybara are found all over South America covering all but the Western costal ranges. Within in this huge area they love to live in densely wooded area but these must also be next to the water. This is because Capybara are semi-aquatic animals. They spend as much time in the water as the do on the land. The best suited habitats for them are topical rain forests, marshes, swamps and water ways.

Breeding

Capybara usually breed only once a year but in some of the regions where they live they the environment allows them to breed more than once. Once the female is pregnant it will usually be around 140 days before she gives birth. The litter can be up to eight babies. It will take around 3-4 months before the young are fully weaned and able to graze on grass. As the capybara roam in groups the young inside these groups form their own nursery groups. They can also mate once they reach sexual maturity at around 2 years old.

Food Habits

The Capybara is a herbivore meaning it only eats plants based foods. Its main dietary intakes are the grasses on the banks of and in the rivers that is inhabits. They have also been known to eat bark of some trees and fruits if they can find where they grow. Capybara are also known to eat their own faeces to help with their digestive systems.

Population Status

Capybaras are very wide spread in South America and even in smaller pockets around the world. There are vast uncounted numbers living in the wild and they are in no way threaten in the wild.

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