fbpx
Capybara

Capybara Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

As the largest rodent in the world, the capybara is a good representative of rodent diversity. Rodents make up about 40% of all known mammal species!

Origin Icon

ORIGIN:
South America

Habitat Icon

HABITAT:
Rainforests, marshes and grasslands

Height/Weight Icon

HEIGHT/WEIGHT:
80-150 lbs
Height: 4 ft

Diet Icon

DIET:
Grass, leaves, barks and fruit

Predators Icon

PREDATORS:
Jaguars, snakes and humans

Natural Defenses Icon

NATURAL DEFENSES:
"Bark" when threatened

Reproduction Icon

REPRODUCTION:
150-day gestation; sexually mature at 18 months

Threats Icon

THREATS:
Hunting by humans

Life Expectancy Icon

LIFE EXPECTANCY:
Up to 12 yrs in human care

True or false? The capybara can stay underwater for up to five minutes at a time in order to hide from predators.
True
False