Capybara
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Distribution
North and East of South America
Habitat
swamp
Gestation
5 months
Number of pups
2 to 8, 4 on average.
Longevity
10 to 12 years
Weight
35 – 65 kg
Size
1.10 – 1.30 m long
Diet
herbivore (frugivore)
Conservation status
:
Not Threatened
The largest rodent in the world!
Also called cabiai, the capybara looks like a giant guinea pig: it can reach a length of 1.35m, for a weight of 65 kg! Like all rodents, its long incisors grow permanently. It is frequently in the water, to protect itself from the heat or to escape possible danger; It can even stay underwater for 5 minutes. In adaptation to this environment, it has partially webbed feet, and eyes, ears and nostrils placed high on the skull, allowing it to hear, see and smell while it swims!
In La Barben Park, capybaras evolve with land tapirs and alpacas.
