Species profile

Name: the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is a mammal native to South America that is known for being the largest rodent in the world.

Appearance: capybaras have heavy bodies with short, square heads. Their fur is reddish-brown on top and yellowish-brown underneath.

Size: adults grow to around 1.0 to 1.3 metres in length and typically weigh between 35 to 66 kg.

Diet: capybaras are are herbivores – mainly grazing on grasses and aquatic plants as well as fruit and tree bark.

Did you know: capybaras are excellent swimmers and can stay underwater for up to five minutes at a time. They even sleep in the water leaving just the tips of their noses out to breathe. Despite their semi-aquatic nature, they are also agile on land and are capable of running as fast as horses.

Location: they are found throughout South America except for Chile. They typically live in densely forested areas or open savannahs near to bodies of water.

Best places to see capybaras

According to reports submitted to WildSide, the best places to see capybaras are as follows:

Photo credit: Hans under a Creative Commons license from Pixabay