The Zoospecies · habitats · children's zoo · care
Catalog · Mammalia · Rodentia · Caviidae · The Americas
Zoology of the ZooPl. LIX

Capybara

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Mammalia · Rodentia · Caviidae
Fig. 1. Capybara
Fig. 2. Range
North AmericaSouth AmericaEuropeAfricaAsiaAustraliaAntarcticarange, sketched
Length or heightBody length about 1-1.3 m
WeightAbout 35-66 kg
FoodGrasses and water plants
LifespanAbout 8-10 years
SocietyGroups
Habitatwetland
RangeSouth America
Wild or tameWild

The largest rodent.

Observe: Look at the webbed toes: a swimmer.

Modern data

Status today

LCLeast concern status to verify
ConservationLeast concern.
Keeper's noteDaily checks of appetite, movement and behavior; enrichment that changes from day to day.
Kingdom · phylumAnimalia · Chordata
GenusHydrochoerus

Check the record: IUCN Red List · GBIF · ITIS

See it elsewhere in the museum

For classes

Lessons: The Mammal Hall: Watch one mammalPreviewThe Vivarium: Measure the habitatPreviewEcosystems: A Web from the WallPreview

Drawer: Zoo: The Americas

Quiz: The Americas quiz · 5 questions

Picture gallery

Tap a picture to enlarge it. Every picture is public domain or openly licensed, credited below, and kept on our own server.

Charles J. Sharp · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Charles J. Sharp · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Giles Laurent · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Giles Laurent · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Charles J. Sharp · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Giles Laurent · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Giles Laurent · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Giles Laurent · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

Same order: Rodentia