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Fast Facts:

They are excellent swimmers but move awkwardly on land.
They hide in the water from their predators with only their eyes, ears and nostrils above the water.
Can stay submerged up to 5 minutes.

Capybara

Scientific Name:	Hydrochaeris Hydrochaeris
Classification:	Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Rodentia Class: Mammalia Family: Hydrochaeridae
Status:	Although Capybara are farmed for their meat and their hides, populations are stable.
Range:	South America from Panama south
Habitat:	The Capybara spend a great deal of time in and around water preferring dense vegetation surrounding lakes, rivers, swamps, marshes, and ponds.
Diet:	Aquatic plants, grasses, vegetable and fruit.
Size:	An adult's body will range from 3.5-4.5 feet long and 2 feet to the shoulder. He will weigh 75-140 pounds.
Life Span:	10 years.
Location:
Print Fact Sheet	Capybara

Special Features:

Males have a large pronounced scent gland on top of the nose called a morillo that secretes a white substance used to mark territory.

Females are larger than males

They have 4 hoof-like toes on the front legs and 3 toes on the back legs. These toes are webbed for swimming.

Social Structure & Behavior:

Capybara are a peaceful and sociable animal that live in groups of up to 20 animals consisting of 1 dominant male followed by females in order of dominance.

Breeding and Care of Young:

Capybaras reach sexual maturity at 18 months and can mate throughout the year, but usually just before the rainy season. They mate in the water and a litter consisting of 4-8 babies is born after a 130-150 day gestation.

Babies are born with their eyes open, they are fully furred and have complete dentition. They can follow their mother and eat grass shortly after birth.

The young who make purring noises are cared for by the entire group of females