What kind of animal is a capybara? We will explain its characteristics, ecology, and habitat. Capybaras are so large and fat that they look like pigs, but they are actually different. It’s actually a member of the rat family. They are widely active on the continent of South America, so they are one of the animals that are familiar to South Americans.
What is a capybara? About basic status
Capybara is a rodent that belongs to the Capybara family. The largest rat in the world. The body length is 106 – 134 cm and the weight is 35 – 64 kg. The scientific name is Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris. The list of information is as follows. Capybara is very popular in South America and events are held there. If you enter the zoo in a group, the animals will show you their swimming skills inside the zoo. She is often exposed at hot springs, capybara cafes, X (twitter), YouTube, etc.
| Japanese（和名） | カピバラ |
| English（英名） | Capybara |
| scientific name(学名) | Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris |
| classification（分類） | Mammalia、 Rodentia、 Hydrochoerinae、Hydrochoerus 哺乳綱、齧歯目、テンジクネズミ科、カピバラ属 |
| IUCN Status(保全状況) | LEAST CONCERN |
| Length（体長） | 106 – 134cm |
| Weight（体重） | 35 – 64kg |
About classification
There is a subspecies of capybara called the lesser capybara.
Hydrochoerus isthmius
Capybaras are found in eastern Panama, northwestern Colombia, and western Venezuela. Its name is lesser capybara or Hime capybara. The Japanese capybara looks a lot like a capybara, but the adult Japanese capybara usually weighs about 28 kg, so it is a little smaller.
Capybara Taxonomy
| 階級 | 分類 |
|---|---|
| 界 | 動物界 (Animalia) |
| 門 | 脊索動物門 (Chordata) |
| 綱 | 哺乳綱 (Mammalia) |
| 目 | 銃歯目 / 齧歯目 (Rodentia) |
| 科 | ケナガネズミ科 (Caviidae) |
| 属 | カピバラ属 (Hydrochoerus) |
| 種 | カピバラ (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) |
About habitat
Capybaras can be found in South America.
Capybara Habitat
Main Distribution Areas
Distributed throughout Central and South America
Tropical and subtropical regions, including Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, and Paraguay
Habitat
Prefers wetlands centered around water
Rivers, lakes, marshes, swamps, and mangrove forests
Grains grass near water and uses areas where it is easy to swim
Environmental Conditions
Adapted to warm, humid regions
Rarely found in areas without access to water
Swimming underwater protects them from predators
Relationship with Humans
Can sometimes be found around farmland and along rivers in South America
In some cases, they are kept as pets or kept in zoos
feature is? What kind of creature is it?
Capybara is the largest living rodent. It has four fingers on its front legs and three toes on its hind legs, and has small webs between its toes, which allow it to swim. Their body hair is hard and long, and has the ability to shed water just by shaking their body. Capybaras usually live in grasslands and riverside areas.
Characteristics of Capybaras
Body Size/Shape
Body Length: Approximately 100-130 cm
Weight: Approximately 35-66 kg (large individuals can exceed 70 kg)
Stout body with short limbs
Rounded snout and rodent-like front teeth
Fur/Color
Fur color is brown to reddish-brown
Coarse fur and not very water-repellent
Some individuals exhibit slight color changes between summer and winter
Head/Face
Round face, large nose and eyes
Nostrils can be closed They have small ears, allowing them to adjust their breathing while swimming underwater.
They have small ears, making them well-suited to aquatic life.
Diet
Completely herbivorous: Grasses, aquatic plants, fruits, bark, etc.
Prefers plants that can be gathered near water.
Behavior/Personality
They often live in groups and are highly social.
They are good at swimming underwater and will dive to escape.
They are gentle and easily tame.
Ecological Characteristics
Specialized for aquatic life: swimming, diving, finding resting places, etc.
They often actively feed at night and early in the morning.
What is your personality like?
Capybaras are very gentle and gentle animals. Basically, capybaras live in groups rather than alone, so they are very social creatures. They often fall asleep and are very laid-back animals. They also do not like getting wet in the rain and tend to huddle together to regulate their body temperature.
Capybara Personality and Behavior
Gentle and gentle
Low-aggression, relatively friendly with other animals and humans
When threatened, they do not attack but instead take evasive action, such as fleeing into the water
Highly sociable
They live in groups and communicate with each other
Maintain social relationships through grooming and physical contact
Curious but cautious
They may show interest in their surroundings
They can also be cautious, quickly hiding when they sense danger
Pack order
They have a sense of hierarchy and territoriality within the pack
Dominant individuals may prioritize eating and resting areas
Relationship with humans
In captivity, they easily tame people and can be petted and interact with others
Their gentle nature makes them popular at zoos and petting centers
What is the ecology like?
Capybaras are herbivores, so their preferred food (meals) are pellets, cabbage, apples, and other fruits, vegetables, and grass. They are particularly big eaters, so be careful as food costs can be high. Even though they are the same giant guinea pig, they can grow large and eat a lot from morning to midday and into the night. There are now many exhibits of this species in Japan, so if you like them, be sure to check them out first.
Capybara Ecology
Habitat
Waterside grasslands and wetlands, such as rivers, lakes, marshes, and swamps, in Central and South America
They live in groups in areas with access to water
Waterside areas serve as bases for rest, refuge, feeding, and social activities
Diet
Completely herbivorous
Eats mainly grasses, aquatic plants, fruit, and tree bark
They often actively feed at night or early in the morning
Sociality/Pack Life
Highly social animals that live in groups
Pack sizes are typically around 10-20 individuals, but can grow to over 50
Dominant individuals maintain order in the group They have priority for eating and resting.
Relationship with Water
They are excellent swimmers and will enter the water to escape or rest.
They can also dive, allowing them to protect themselves from predators in the water.
Reproduction
Breeding occurs year-round, regardless of the season.
Gestation period: Approximately 150 days.
They give birth to 1-8 (usually 3-4) young at a time.
The young can walk immediately after birth, but grow up under the care of their mother.
Activity Pattern
Behavior patterns intermediate between diurnal and nocturnal.
They rest during the day, often near water, and forage during cooler times and at night.
Are there any natural enemies?
Capybaras are attacked by jaguars, pumas, etc. However, capybaras have a way of escaping into the water, and since they can swim, they often look for rivers when they escape.
About Baby Capybaras
Baby capybaras have unique characteristics in appearance, behavior, and growth.
Characteristics of Baby Capybaras (Juvenile Capybaras)
Size at Birth
Body Length: Approximately 30-40cm
Weight: Approximately 1-2kg
Covered in soft, brown downy fur
Behavior
Able to walk immediately after birth (to escape predators)
Live protected by their mother or herd
While drinking breast milk, they gradually begin to eat grass and aquatic plants
Growth Process
At one month of age, they begin to adapt to a herbivorous diet
At three to four months, they are almost completely weaned from their mother’s milk
By six months, their physique is quite close to that of an adult, and they have learned social behavior within the group
Sociality
Juveniles play with each other and observe the behavior of their parents and other adults
Learning rules and hierarchical relationships within the group
Defensive Behaviors
When sensing danger, they hide near their mother or herd
Fleeing into the water is also observed from an early age
Are capybaras an endangered species?
Capybaras as a whole are not an endangered species. However, the lesser capybara, which is a subspecies, is in a pinch. The possibility of extinction has been pointed out due to the destruction of mining forests, the drainage of swamps, and the extremely small habitat.
Conservation Status Details
International Assessment (IUCN)
Classification: Least Concern (LC)
Reason: Widespread distribution, stable population
Distribution and Population
Found throughout South America (Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, Paraguay, etc.)
They form schools near rivers and lakes, where relatively large numbers have been observed.
Threats
Habitat development, wetland destruction, and hunting have had localized impacts.
However, there has been no significant impact on the overall population, and the species is not currently at risk of extinction.
Can capybaras be kept as pets?
Can you keep a capybara as a pet? There is a big hurdle: money. To buy a capybara, you will need to spend 700,000 to 1 million yen. Since capybaras are rare animals to keep as pets, the price is high, so it is not easy. Another key is whether you can find a veterinarian who will treat capybaras. They can display unexpected behaviors, so humans need to take good care of them.
What should I feed?
Capybaras are herbivores, so they like pellets, fruits, vegetables, and grass. They are especially big eaters, so be careful as food costs can be high. Even though they are the same giant guinea pig, they can grow large and eat a lot from morning to midday and into the night. There are many exhibits of this species in Japan now, so if you like them, be sure to check them out first.
Breeding space
Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world. They require a fairly large space to be kept. A bathing area is essential. If they are not exposed to water for a long time, their skin will dry out. They also need a toilet, a place to sleep, and a heater. Their fur continues to grow to keep them warm in the winter, so this care is also necessary.
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