It's the world's largest rodent and I think it deserves more respect!

Ok, after I mentioned my everlasting love for Capybaras in the last post (I'm not kidding...we have these awesome little kids' picture books from Venezuela that are all about a capybara...I used to spend HOURS making up stories!) I figured this blog could use some more information. Some more cold hard facts, if you will. Plus, I found some pretty swank capybara merchandising on the web! (If anyone has some cold hard cash they'd like to drop on me, this handmade plush Capybara is only $135.00! The scary-as-all-get-out plastic one is made in China and only 2 bucks!)




So, capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) are the largest rodents in the world. In Venezuela, they also go by the name "chiwiri." They live in South America and always around lakes, streams, and marshes. Capybara weigh from about 75 to 145 pounds (that's a lotta rodent, guys!) and stand around 2 feet high. They also look a bit like guinea pigs. Here's what I think is uber-cool: Capybara have partially webbed feet (to facilitate swimming in their aquatic environment) and the front limbs have four toes while the shorter back limbs only have 3! I know it's a bit tough to see in the picture, but he really does have four toes there...the other one is kind of toward the back of the foot. You CAN see the partial webbing however!



Capybara sometimes eat fruit, but mainly dine on aquatic plants and tree barks. When faced with danger (such as a jaguar, anaconda, or eagle), the capybara run and hide in the water. Capybara tend to stay on land during the day and nap in the sun, but they love the water as well. Sometimes, capybara will sleep under water with only their noses sticking above so they can breathe.



Capybara are social animals and live in troops ranging from 10 to 100 members! (normally with one dominant male and several females and subordinate males) A capybara will give birth to 2 to 8 babies (with an average litter size of 4) and all the females of the troop will take care of and raise the newborns. Look! Capybara babies!



Capybara communicate with grunts, clicks, and whistles. They sound a bit like birds. Also, being water animals AND due to the fact that they are a bit taller in the back than in the front, the capybara tends to be a bit awkward on land. For your multimedia pleasure:

Click here to hear an example of a capybara call!

I hope you've enjoyed today's lesson on the magnificent world of the capybara! I certainly did! Any questions, concerns, or comments (only as long as they're nice ones) can be directed to that little link/button down below!