Scientific Name:
Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris
Distribution
South America, from Colombia and Venezuela to northern Argentina.
Diet:
Ηerbivorous. Grasses, aquatic plants , fruits and berries.
Facts
Habitat: marshes, estuaries, along rivers and streams, swamps and grasslands
Gestation: 120 days, up to 8 young.
Social structure: Either in groups of 10-30 individuals (one dominant male, one or more females, many young and some subordinate males), or solitary (especially males)
Weight: 35-66 kg.
Dimensions: length: 106-134 cm, Height: 50-62cm
Estimated population in the wild: Unknown
Lifespan: 10 years in the wild, 12 years under human care
Threats: human hunting for its skin and meat, predators such as : wildcats (Jaguars, Pumas. Ocelots), snakes (Anacondas), caimans, eagles.
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Did you know that:
- Capybaras are excellent swimmers. They can stay underwater for up to 5min at a time.
- They mate in the water.
- Its common name, “Kapiyva” means “master of the grasses”.
- The male capybara can be distinguished from the female by the obvious, highly developed scent gland on top of the snout, known as morillo.