Animal
Capybara
The largest living rodent spends its life close to water.
Idioma del contenido
A capybara’s eyes, ears and nostrils sit high on its head. This lets it submerge much of its body while remaining aware of the world above the surface. Webbing between its toes helps it swim. The capybara is the largest living rodent, with a stocky body and blunt muzzle quite unlike the shape of a small mouse.
In the wild it lives in South America and stays closely connected to water. It eats mainly grasses and aquatic plants, supplemented by other plant foods. Its coarse, fairly sparse fur comes in brownish shades. The tail is vestigial, rather than forming the long rudder familiar in many other swimming mammals.
Capybaras are social animals. They live in groups and communicate with different sounds, from squeaks to grunts. When threatened, they can make a bark-like call. Water provides refuge and a place where they move efficiently. Even when little more than the head is visible above the surface, the ears and eyes can monitor the surroundings. Their position is one of the clearest adaptations to a life shared between land and water.
Para niños
The capybara is related to other rodents, but is much bigger than most of them. It is the largest living rodent. It has a stocky body, a blunt muzzle and a tail so small that it is easy to miss.
Water is an important part of its world. Capybaras swim well and have webbing between their toes. Their eyes, ears and nostrils are high on the head. With the body underwater, they can still watch what is happening around them.
Wild capybaras live in South America. They mainly eat grasses and water plants. They like the company of other capybaras and communicate with squeaks and grunts. When threatened, they can even bark. Look for the high ears and eyes: their position helps explain how capybaras manage in water.
Pregunta 1 de 2
What does the high position of a capybara’s eyes, ears and nostrils allow it to do?
- Ubicación
- Capybara enclosure