Capybara

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

The world's largest living rodent species

Numbers

Weight: 108 lbaverage in the Venezuelan llanos; range from 77 to 146 lb, maximum recorded 200 lb
Length: 47 infrom 42 to 53 in
Height: 22 inat the shoulder, from 20 to 24 in
Lifespan: 4 yearsin the wild, due to predation; sources also report a general average of 8 to 10 years and up to 12 years in captivity
Apnea: 5 minutesper single dive
Record weight: 200 lbwild female from Brazil
Largest group: 100 individualsin the dry season; normally 10 to 20

that the capybara is the largest living rodent, with the heaviest wild female ever recorded in Brazil reaching two hundred pounds?
that it can stay underwater for up to five minutes during a single dive, thanks to nostrils and eyes on top of its head?
that it can sleep underwater during the day, keeping only its nose, eyes, and ears floating above the surface?
that its closest living relatives are guinea pigs and rock cavies, rather than actual pigs?
that its scientific name means water pig, while its common name comes from Tupi and means grass eater?
that it lives under four years in the wild due to predators like jaguars, but can reach twelve years in captivity?
that females in heat whistle through their nose to signal to nearby males that they are ready to mate?
that adult capybaras practice alloparenting, generously taking care of babies that belong to other members within the same social group?
that in the eighteenth century the Catholic Church in South America classified its meat as fish so people could eat it during Lent?
that in Japan, where it became famous as the character Kapibara-san, some zoos allow it to relax in hot springs during winter?

Five questions about this animal. Pick an answer and find out if it is the right one.

Question 1 of 5

Which is the largest living rodent in the world?

Question 2 of 5

How long can the capybara stay underwater?

Question 3 of 5

Which animals are the closest relatives of the capybara?

Question 4 of 5

What is the morrillo?

Question 5 of 5

How long does a capybara live on average in the wild?

Experiment 1

Try holding your breath while timing yourself with a friend: the capybara can stay underwater for up to five minutes on every single dive.

Experiment 2

Step on a bathroom scale and compare your weight to the one hundred and eight pounds of an adult capybara living in Venezuela.

Experiment 3

Find South America on a world map and try naming every country a capybara lives in: it inhabits almost all of them, except Chile.