Animal
Capybara
The largest rodent, whose daily life centres on its group and nearby water.
Idioma del contenido
The capybara is the largest living rodent and belongs to the cavy family. Short brown fur covers its bulky body; an adult can weigh about 65 kilograms. Its natural range spans South America, including Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia and Argentina. Rather than one particular forest type, it mainly chooses places associated with water.
Riverbanks, lakeshores and wetlands provide living space and plant food. Capybaras swim and dive well, remaining underwater for several minutes. They eat grasses, aquatic plants and bark. Water therefore offers both a place to hide and access to part of their daily menu.
Capybaras live in groups that may contain around twenty animals. Dominance relationships exist within the group, and the animals communicate through various sounds, including squeals and grunts. Most activity occurs at dawn and dusk. A capybara sitting quietly is thus a member of a social group, while its swimming abilities can be easy to overlook when watching it on a dry bank. This stop offers a comparison with the tapir encountered earlier.
Para niños
A capybara looks like a very large relative of a guinea pig. It belongs to the same family and is the world's largest rodent. Its short fur is brown, and its heavy body moves well in water. Capybaras can swim, dive and stay below the surface for several minutes.
Wild capybaras live in South America. They seek places beside rivers, lakes and wetlands. They eat grasses, water plants and bark, so their meals are made of plants. Other capybaras usually keep them company: a group may contain around twenty animals. They communicate with sounds including squeals and grunts. Group life and nearby water are as important to them as food. They tend to be most active at dawn and dusk, so visitors often see resting animals in the middle of the day.
Pregunta 1 de 2
Which family does the capybara belong to?
- Ubicación
- Capybara enclosure, stop 26 on the map.