The capybara is a strange animal from the rodent family. Today in Teketrek We will talk about how it lives, reproduces, and feeds, and we will list the most important facts that characterize it.
An introduction to the capybara
The capybara is a rodent from the genus Hydrochoerus:
- It is brown in color, has short hair, a sharp nose, short legs, and small ears. It does not have a tail.
- Its toes are partially webbed for paddling, and its fur is brown to reddish-brown, long and brittle.
- His eyes, nose and ears are hairless.
Types of capybara
There are two types of capybaras:
- The Great I (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest living rodent, weighing 79 kg (174 lb), and reaching a length of 1.3 m (4.3 ft).
- H. isthmius, the smallest species, weighs 28 kg (62 lb), 1 meter (3 ft) long.
- Some classifications place it in the family Hydrochoeridae, while others place it in the Hydrochoerinae subfamily Caviidae.
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What do capybaras eat?
Capybaras have an unusual diet:
- It feeds on plants like other rodents, as its teeth grow constantly and wear down as a result of grazing aquatic plants and herbs.
- Capybaras also eat their feces in the morning when they are rich in protein due to the large number of microbes digesting the previous day’s meals. Since the grasses they eat may have difficulty digesting, eating their waste allows them to be digested again.
- On the other hand, young capybaras are a favorite snack for snakes such as constrictor boas, crab-eaters, small cats, and birds of prey such as caracaras and black vultures. But this has to do with the synchronization of the presence of predators with the time the capybara is active, whether day or night, most often at dawn and dusk.
Reproduction in capybaras
The capybara is a mammal that reproduces by birth
The female bears three to eight young every year once, and the gestation period ranges from 100 to 110 days.
- Their breeding season varies every year, as it depends on two basic factors: the habitat in which they live, and the availability of partners.
- Lifestyle of the capybara
- Capybaras live alone, or in groups of up to 40 individuals.
- Capybaras live in groups on the banks of lakes and rivers.
- In the morning and evening they eat, then spend most of their day resting under a cover on the banks.
Where does a capybara live?
There are two types of capybaras, each of which lives in a different area:
- The capybara (H. hydrochaeris) lives in remote areas from Venezuela to northern Argentina and around the Amazon River Basin.
- But the smaller capybara (H. isthmius) lives in an area between central northwestern Colombia and extreme northwestern Venezuela.
- Capybaras and extinction
- Although its population is generally stable, it is threatened with extinction in some areas as a result of hunting, and some local populations have been eliminated.
- Both capybara species are of concern to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. It is hunted for its meat and animal skins, and is used as food in various parts of South America.
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Interesting facts about capybaras
Among the most important facts about capybaras:
- Capybaras swim and dive easily and may enter water to avoid predators such as jaguars and anacondas.
- Since the capybara is a vegetarian animal, in cultivated areas it may become an agricultural pest, eating watermelon, grains, and squash.
- The capybara is a strong swimmer whose body is adapted to life in bodies of water in forests, seasonal flooded savannas, and wetlands. Since its toes are partially webbed for paddling, and its fur is long and fragile, it is suited to drying quickly on land. Their faces also remain exposed and alert when their body is submerged in water.
FAQ
The most common questions about capybaras:
Why do capybaras eat their own feces?
Because of the difficulty of digesting herbs the first time.
- How do capybaras reproduce?
Capybaras reproduce by giving birth.
- Where does the lesser capybara (H. isthmius) live?
It lives in an area between central northwestern Colombia and extreme northwestern Venezuela.
- Is the capybara endangered?
Yes, the capybara is threatened with extinction as a result of hunting for food and skins.
- Is capybara a friendly animal?
Yes, capybaras are known to be very friendly and sociable animals.
- Why is capybara so famous?
Capybaras are famous for being the largest rodent in the world and for their friendly nature.
In short, the capybara is an amphibious herbivorous mammal that feeds on plants and reproduces by birth. It lives on the banks of rivers individually or in groups.
