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What does a capybara skull look like? Capybara capybara at home and in nature

Capybara (lat. Hydrochoerus capybara) is a semi-aquatic mammal, the largest of modern rodents. It is the only representative of the capybara family (lat. Hydrochoeridae). There is a dwarf variety Hydrochoerus isthmius, sometimes it is considered as a separate species (lesser capybara).

The capybara can be compared in appearance to large ones. The body length of an adult can reach 1.0-1.35 m. The height at the withers is 0.5-0.6 m. The weight of males ranges from 34 to 63 kg. Females are slightly larger and can weigh up to 65.5 kg.

flickr/cdallacosta

This is an outwardly phlegmatic herbivorous rodent with a heavy build. U capybaras wide, blunt muzzle. The head is large with short rounded ears. The high-set eyes are relatively small in size. There are 20 teeth, and cheek teeth grow throughout life. The capybara has rather short limbs. There are four toes on the forelimbs and three on the hind limbs. There is practically no tail. The body has long, coarse hair without undercoat.

The capybara lives in Central and South America, found off the coast of warm waters of Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and French Guiana. Factors limiting the spread of this rodent include water and air temperature.

flickr/cdallacosta

Capybara prefers low-lying areas near rivers, lakes, and swamps. It often chooses cultivated areas, having the habit of eating grains, melons, and sugar cane. It also feeds on coastal and aquatic plants, tree bark, and wild cereals.

The semi-aquatic animal spends most of its time on land, and in case of danger it always tries to hide in the water. Hiding among aquatic plants, capybara leaves only the nostrils visible above the surface of the water. It does not go more than 500-1000 meters from the reservoir.

It is active in the morning and evening, sleeps at night, and rests from the heat during the day. In areas where the capybara can be disturbed by people with their activities, it begins to lead a nocturnal lifestyle. When lying down, capybaras settle directly on the ground; they do not create burrows or nests.

These mammals live primarily in groups of 10 to 20 individuals. The group consists of a dominant male, several males, females and cubs. But approximately 5-10 percent of individuals (mostly males) live alone. This happens when a dominant male drives a competitor out of the herd. A group of animals can occupy a territory of up to 10 hectares, capybaras mark their areas, and a conflict between a group of its permanent inhabitants and aliens may arise.

Communication occurs through whistles, clicking sounds and bark-like sounds. The smells of the secretion of the olfactory gland are also used. In males it is located on the muzzle. During the mating season, males mark plants with secretions and attract females. The mating season usually occurs at the beginning of the rainy season in spring and autumn.

Although capybaras can bear offspring throughout the year. Pregnancy lasts approximately 150 days. From 2 to 8 cubs are born. Newborn animals have fur, teeth, eyes are open, and weigh about 1.5 kg. Milk feeding occurs for 3-4 months. Each female can produce litters one to three times a year. Puberty occurs at the age of 15-18 months.

The lifespan of animals is 9-10 years; in captivity they can live up to 12 years. Capybaras have long been domesticated, and some families keep them as pets. In Venezuela, animals are raised on farms and fattened for meat. Capybara meat vaguely resembles pork.

Capybara or capybara ( Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) is the largest rodent in the world. She is a member of the capybara genus ( Hydrochoerus), which includes another living species - the capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius) and two extinct species. Close relatives of the capybara include guinea pigs and mountain pigs, and it is more distantly related to agoutis, chinchillas and nutrias.

Classification

Domain: ;
Kingdom: ;
Type: ;
Class: ;
Squad:
Family: Gilts;
Genus: Capybaras;
Species: Capybara.

Description and dimensions

The capybara has short limbs ending in partially webbed toes. The forelimbs are characterized by the presence of four fingers, while the hind limbs have three fingers. The fingers have short and powerful claws. Unlike some rodents, the capybara does not have a tail.

The capybara has a broad head with short, rounded ears, a large snout, and small, widely spaced nostrils. This large rodent is covered with coarse hair, 30 to 120 mm long. The color of the animal ranges from dark brown to reddish and from light brown to light yellow. The hairs are covered by sweat glands that are unique to capybaras. These animals are the only rodents that have sweat glands in their hair.

Hydrochaeris hyrochaeris on average weighs from 35 to 65.5 kg and has a body length of up to 1.35 m. Males have sebaceous glands on the top of the snout, and this feature indicates their sexual maturity. There are six pairs of nipples on the female's belly. The genitals of both sexes are hidden, making it difficult to determine the sex of the animal. Males' incisors are usually larger and wider than those of females of the same age.

Lifespan

Life expectancy in the wild is 7 to 10 years, and capybaras live about 12 years in captivity.

Habitat and geographical range

Capybaras are found only in areas where water is readily available: flooded grasslands are their preference, but they are also found in wetlands and low-lying forests where there is good pasture and water is available all year round. However, these rodents occupy a range of habitats, including dry forest, shrubland and grassland.

In general, the capybara is distributed from Panama to northern Argentina. The capybara occupies a territory of 10 to 15 hectares, depending on the area, the abundance of food and the distance to the water source.

Reproduction

The capybara becomes sexually mature when it reaches a body weight of 30 kg, which usually coincides with the age of 1.5 years. A female usually gives birth to one to eight cubs. Capybaras from Paraguay typically give birth to one to four young; this is less than that of capybaras from other regions. Mating usually occurs at the beginning of the rainy season, which begins around April or May. If habitats are rich in resources, capybaras may breed more than once a year.

The gestation period lasts about 120 days, and the birth of offspring occurs in September-November. The young are not born in a nest, like some other rodents, but somewhere in their habitat where there is shelter. In open areas, newborn capybaras can become prey to birds of prey, including caracaras and urubas, as well as caimans.

The cubs are born completely covered in fur, with open eyes and a full set of teeth. They feed on their mother's milk for three to four months, but milk is not their main source of nutrients. Grasses are a major contributor to the capybara diet for both adults and juveniles.

Nutrition

Capybaras are herbivores that primarily feed on aquatic plants, grass, reeds, tree bark, grains, green leaves (mostly cassava), as well as vegetables such as squash and fruits including bananas and melons. Plants consumed in summer are not eaten in winter due to reduced nutritional value. They also feed on their own feces.

Behavior

The capybara mainly occupies habitats near water. They can be found along most river banks, wetlands, wetlands, forested areas and former riverbeds. As long as there is a source of water, capybaras will occupy this area. Capybaras use water for drinking, bathing, and protection. They need water to lower their body temperature (their sweat glands are not able to cool the body through sweating). Mud near a water source is used as protection against roundworm infestation.

Capybaras need large areas for grazing and resting. During the rainy season, capybaras use the entire area of their habitat. During the dry season, when there is a shortage of resources and food, they live closer to the water source. The dry season usually causes capybara populations to decline due to starvation, increased predation, and disease.

Capybaras can run, walk and swim. Despite being rodents, they are excellent swimmers and divers. Young capybaras tend to stay out of the water. Their behavior suggests that they are aware of the dangers of water and prefer to graze on land. Typically, these animals move from pasture to pasture along straight paths established by the herd.

Groups range from single pairs, to families, and even complex groups with large numbers of adults (male and female) and their young. Group sizes vary throughout the year; the average size is 5.6 individuals during the rainy season, and 15.9 individuals during the dry months. There is usually one dominant male, several other males, their offspring, and several females. Dominant males may chase other males and become aggressive towards them. These same dominant males never show aggression towards females, young individuals or newborn cubs. Young capybaras play and act aggressively towards each other.

Marking capybara territories is the responsibility of the dominant male. It uses the sebaceous glands on its face and rubs them against bushes, stems and plants. Females, juveniles and subordinate males also use their sebaceous glands to mark territory, but do not do so as often as dominant males. Urine is also used to mark capybara territories. Marking helps the herd to prevent other groups of capybaras (groups generally do not mix) and helps the group stay within its own territory.

Vocalizations

Capybara vocalizations are unique among rodents. When a predator is close or approaching, they emit a loud sound that will continue until the predator leaves or the entire group enters the water for protection. Young or newborn capybaras whistle when they need their mother, and they will not stop making this sound until the mother returns. Adult females also vocalize when searching for an adult male. Likewise, the female will not stop until the male comes. Feelings of contentment are expressed by a low clicking sound, while grunts or purrs reveal their submissive mood. Males chatter their teeth angrily to show their aggressive mood.

Capybara as a pet

In some countries, keeping capybaras as pets is illegal, while in others a special license and legal permission is required. In addition to high maintenance costs, their gregarious nature also prevents them from living alone in captivity. Proper care includes:

Adequate water supply

A large pond of about 3.5 meters should be provided as they are semi-aquatic and love to swim and also submerge themselves in water during the day.

Correct fencing

These are very fast and agile animals that can crawl through even small holes. Therefore, it is necessary to provide proper fencing to prevent them from escaping.

Territory

These large animals need enough space to move freely. Make sure there is a sunny spot where they can bask, as well as a shaded area to keep them from overheating. A special lamp can also be placed in their living quarters during cold times to keep capybaras from freezing.

Nutrition

Because they feed primarily on grass, they require a large lawn or field of grass. They should also be provided with fresh fruits, vegetables, hay and grains. Providing plenty of branches and sticks to chew on helps rodents wear down their teeth, preventing various diseases.

Economic value for people: positive

Capybaras are prized for their quality meat and skin. The meat is especially popular during Lent, the 40-day period before Easter, because it is approved by the Catholic Church as an alternative to beef or pork. (Supposedly the semi-aquatic lifestyle of capybaras convinced early priests that they were fish-like.) To reduce illegal hunting, capybaras were encouraged to be farmed, and the animals were domesticated quite easily, at least in small numbers.

Economic value for people: negative

Capybaras sometimes come to gardens or farms in search of food, including melons, squash or grain crops. It has also been suggested that they carry some diseases and can infect livestock.

Role in the ecosystem

According to the IUCN, capybaras are considered to be of Least Concern and are therefore not endangered.

The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is a large South American rodent, the only representative of the family.

The first European naturalists to visit South America called capybaras "capybaras" or "Orinoco pigs." The first of these names was transferred to the modern scientific name of the family Hydrochoeridae. Strictly speaking, they are neither pigs nor entirely aquatic, but their closest relatives are the Caviidae.

Today, the capybara is the largest of all existing rodents: body length can reach up to 140 cm and weight up to 66 kg.

Other, now extinct, capybaras were several times larger than modern capybaras and reached the size of grizzly bears!

The capybara has a massive barrel-shaped body, a wide, blunt head, and an almost square muzzle. There is no tail, and the front legs are shorter than the hind legs. Small eyes, short and rounded ears, widely spaced nostrils are located at the top of the head: when the animal swims, they stick out of the water. The rodents' toes, connected by small membranes, make them excellent swimmers, able to stay underwater for up to 5 minutes.

The capybara in the photo below is easily recognizable as a male by the convex bump on the front of the muzzle - the sebaceous gland, which contains the individual scent of the animal.

The tough skin of adult animals is covered with sparse, long, bristle-like hairs, the color of which varies from brown to reddish. Juveniles have short and thick fur, light brown in color.

Two pairs of large incisors, typical for rodents, allow the animals to pinch very short grass, and they grind it with their cheek teeth.

Habitat

The capybara is common in South America. Found in the eastern Andes from Venezuela to northern Argentina and from northwestern Venezuela through northern Colombia to the Panama Canal. Inhabits flooded savannas and meadows, as well as the banks of lakes and rivers in tropical forests.

Lifestyle of a capybara in nature

As semi-aquatic animals, capybaras naturally prefer to live near bodies of water. Here they cool their bodies from the heat, swim, and find shelter from predators. They adore water and rarely move further than a few hundred meters from it. They are excellent swimmers and divers. These animals spend most of their lives in water, and during dry periods they sometimes have to travel quite long distances in search of water and food.

Capybaras do not build homes; they simply live on the territory of their property, where they sleep and relax directly on the ground or swimming in the water. They lead a predominantly diurnal lifestyle, only where they are disturbed by people do they switch to nocturnal activity.

Nutritional Features

Capybaras are herbivorous animals. They feed mainly on grass growing in or near water. Even the short dry grass left at the end of the dry tropical season is eaten.

As you know, grass contains a lot of fiber, which is indigestible by mammalian digestive enzymes. Therefore, in the process of evolution, capybaras have developed a special chamber that serves for the fermentation of food. Fermentation occurs in the cecum, which in humans is called the “appendix”. However, since the cecum is located between the small and large intestines, animals cannot absorb all the products of fermentation performed by symbiont microbes. To solve this problem, they resort to coprophagy (eating feces) so that they can benefit from the work of their symbionts. Thus, every morning the capybaras reuse what they digested the previous evening or night.

Family life

Capybaras live in groups of an average of 10-15 animals. Where food is abundant, groups can be larger - up to 30 individuals. Pairs are rarely seen. Some young males are solitary or loosely associated with several groups.

During the dry season, groups unite around drying reservoirs, forming temporary aggregations of 100 or more animals. When the long-awaited wet season arrives again, large aggregations break up into the usual small families.

A typical capybara family consists of a dominant male (identified by his large nasal gland), one or more females, one or more subordinate males, and the younger generation. A hierarchy is established among the males, supported by aggressive interactions, but things usually do not go beyond chases. Dominant males periodically escort subordinates to the periphery of the group, but fights rarely occur. Females are loyal to each other. Each group has its own territory, which is jealously defended from the encroachments of neighbors. Each family occupies an average area of 10-20 hectares.

Rodents mark the boundaries of a site with glands. Each capybara has 2 types of scent glands. One of them, well developed in males but almost absent in females, is located at the end of the snout. It is a dark, oval, hairless bulge that secretes copious sticky fluid. Both sexes also produce odors using two glandular sacs located on either side of the anus.

The chemical composition of the secretions varies from individual to individual, which allows capybaras to recognize each other. The nasal scent gland plays a more important role in marking social status, while the anal gland is more important in recognizing whether an animal belongs to a particular group, as well as in territorial behavior.

Reproduction

Females reach sexual maturity by 12 months, males by 18 months. In Colombia and Venezuela there is no clearly defined mating season, but its peak occurs at the beginning of the wet season in May. In Brazil, in more temperate areas, they appear to breed only once a year.

When the female becomes capable of fertilization, the male begins to follow her around. The female can wander in and around the water for several hours, all this time the male follows her. Mating occurs in the water when the female finally stops.

After 150 days, from 1 to 8 well-developed cubs are born. Before labor begins, the female leaves the group and lies down nearby, and returns a few hours later with her children. After a maximum of a week, the cubs are already eating grass on their own, although milk feeding continues for another 3-4 months.

Mothers can feed not only their own, but also the cubs of other females from their group. In general, all females of the herd care for the offspring, without dividing them into friends and foes.

Enemies of capybaras

Despite their impressive size, capybaras have plenty of enemies. They suffer most from vultures and wild dogs. Young capybaras are especially vulnerable to predators - they can also be grabbed by caimans and foxes. Jaguars and smaller cats have been a nuisance to them in the past, but they are now on the verge of extinction themselves in Venezuela and Colombia.

When a predator approaches a group, the first capybara to notice the danger emits a warning bark. This means everyone nearby needs to be on alert. Continuous barking means that the enemy is very close, then all members of the group rush into the water and form a dense cluster: the young are in the middle, and the adults are outside.

Voice repertoire

Capybaras make several vocal calls. For young animals, a throaty purr is typical, which is used to maintain contact with mothers or other members of the group. A similar sound is also made by adults who lose in a conflict, perhaps to pacify the enemy. Another sound, similar to a loud bark, is made when there is danger, for example when a predator is spotted.

Capybaras and humans

In Colombia, capybara numbers have declined so much that the government has banned capybara hunting since 1980.

In Venezuela, the demand for capybara meat has existed at least since the 17th century, when the monks of the Roman Catholic mission included them, along with aquatic turtles, as legalized Lenten food. The aquatic lifestyle of these animals confused the monks (they decided that capybaras were akin to fish).

It was only in 1953 that their hunting became the subject of official regulation and control, but without much effect. In 1968, after a five-year moratorium, a plan was developed to study the biology and preserve the species. This led to the stabilization of the population. The capybara is now listed as not endangered by the IUCN.

Capybaras are easy to tame. They are affectionate, flexible, and friendly. In many Indian villages they live as pets. However, in our country, keeping such a pet at home is quite problematic. A city apartment is definitely not suitable for him: he needs space, and most importantly, a body of water, and quite a large one at that: the giant rodent must be able to swim and dive regularly.

In nature, these animals live no more than 6 years; in captivity they can live more than 12 years.

In contact with

For those who adore guinea pigs and have kept or are keeping such a charming pet at home, capybara, undoubtedly, you will really like it, because these animals are very similar in appearance, only the latter is tens of times larger and more impressive. It’s hard to believe that an animal of such significant size is a rodent and not just a simple one, but the largest one on the entire globe. The amazing and unusual capybara is the mistress of the water element, without which this animal simply cannot imagine its existence.

Origin of the species and description

If we turn to ancient history, we can say that the capybara genus has roots going back centuries, even millennia. There is evidence that about three million years ago, a huge rodent lived on the South American continent, weighing up to a ton. This titan had smaller relatives, weighing hundreds of kilograms.

In those days, South America was isolated from North America, and the fauna of giant rodents felt very at ease. With the advent of the Isthmus of Panama (as a result of various natural disasters), more aggressive animals began to move from the North American continent to the southern one, oppressing the huge rodents, which gradually disappeared. Fortunately, one relative was still able to adapt and survive; it was and remains the capybara, which had a hard time competing with larger herbivores.

The very word “capybara” from the language of the Guarani Indian tribe can be translated as “master of herbs” or “eater of fine grass.” Local aborigines called it by other names:

poncho;
capigua;
caprincio;
chiguire.

If we talk about the modern, scientific, official name of this animal, it sounds like “water pig”. So, the capybara (capybara) is a herbivorous mammal leading a semi-aquatic lifestyle, a representative of the capybara family. Scientists classified the capybara as a porcupine rodent. As a result of various biological studies, it turned out that of all the animals living today, the capybara has the closest family ties with the mountain pig (moko). However, the latter is completely indifferent to water.

Appearance and features

The calm and peaceful appearance of capybaras creates a feeling of their eternal thoughtfulness. Such an interesting expression on the capybara’s face makes you smile. The head of these rodents is quite large, the muzzle is blunt-nosed, even slightly squared. The ears are small, rounded, the eyes are also small, the nostrils are widely spaced and resemble a snout.

One of the features of this rodent is its large size and heaviness. The weight of males varies from 54 to 63 kg, and females are even larger - from 62 to 74 kg. There have also been heavier specimens (from 90kg), but this is rare. Capybaras grow from half a meter to 62 cm in height, and more than a meter in length.

Video: Capybara

The capybara has 20 teeth, the most impressive and terrifying are the incisors, which have an orange tint. They appear in the mouth like huge daggers. Other teeth (cheek teeth) continue to grow throughout life and do not have roots. Multiple tubercles on the animal's tongue make it thicker.

The coat of the water pig is rough and bristly, the hairs grow from 3 to 12 cm in length. The capybara has no undercoat at all, as a result of which the sun's rays can easily burn its skin, so it is often smeared with mud, like sunscreen.

The color of the capybara can be:

reddish-chestnut;
brown;
dark chocolate.

The abdomen is always a lighter shade, with a slight yellowness. Some individuals have dark (almost black) spots on their faces. The color of the young is noticeably lighter.

The appearance of the capybara is associated not only with a guinea pig, it also looks like a pot-bellied barrel on four legs. It has four elongated toes with webbed partitions on its front paws, and three on its hind paws. The capybara's claws are thick and blunt, similar to hooves. The hind limbs are slightly longer, so sometimes the animal seems to sit down. On the powerful croup of the capybara, the tail is not visible at all. He is, of course, present, but somewhere deep down.

Where does the capybara live?

The capybara has a permanent residence in both Central and South America. She prefers climates with high humidity. Lives in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela. It can be found in Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Panama, Uruguay, Guyana. In general, this good-natured animal spread throughout the South American continent.

One of the most important living conditions for this large rodent is the proximity of a body of water. The water pig loves river and swampy banks, likes to settle near lakes and ponds where hyacinth and leaves grow.

It grazes in meadows, eating Guinea grass, and is found in agricultural lands. The capybara lives in the Chaco forests and savannas, which are flooded during floods. It is also possible to see the water pig in mountainous areas (about 1300 m), near mangrove swamps.

The capybara usually does not go further than a kilometer from the reservoir, because this is not only its native and favorite element, but also a refuge from large land predators. The capybara does not set up a den, burrow, or den; it lives and rests right on the ground.

What does a capybara eat?

It’s not for nothing that the Indians called water pigs the Lords of Grass, because... They feed mainly on it. They eat vegetation living in water and on land. When the rainy season ends, capybaras feast on sedge. They eat capybaras and dried grass and hay. They do not disdain both tree bark and various fruits; they also eat tubers of various plants.

Capybaras love all kinds of melons, in search of which they come to cultivated fields. They can be seen in both reed and grain crop fields, but these peaceful animals do not cause much damage. Still, they prefer algae and grass. In dry times, capybaras compete with cattle for pasture.

An interesting fact is that water pigs are coprophages, i.e. they eat their own feces. Nature arranged it this way for a reason; it helps capybaras with digestion.

The fact is that these animals cannot digest the huge amount of fiber in the grass. Because of this, the capybara has a special chamber located in the cecum, in which food is fermented.

All fermentation products are not completely digested by animals, but leave the body along with feces, which the capybaras then eat, replenishing the body’s need for all the necessary enzymes. Those who kept a guinea pig at home could repeatedly observe this process; in capybaras it usually occurs in the morning.

Features of character and lifestyle

Capybaras simply cannot imagine their life without water. In the water they eat, drink, relax, take mud baths, cool off, and escape from danger. The way of life of these animals is collective. They live in entire families, numbering from 10 to 20 members. Their way of life is very similar to a harem, in which there is a main male sultan, several female concubines with cubs. There are also representatives of the stronger sex in the harem, but they do not contradict their leader, completely obeying him. If the leader feels a competitor in someone, he will drive him out of the family, so some males have to live alone.

Both females and males have special anal glands that emit a special aroma; each one has an individual and unique scent. For males, he talks about their position in the family. Males also have scent glands on their heads, which they use to mark their territories. Sometimes the domain of one harem can extend over 200 hectares, but usually they occupy from 1 to 10 hectares. During the rainy season, capybaras disperse over large areas, and during dry times they cluster in the coastal zone of water bodies. Sometimes you can see hundreds of capybaras around a lake or river, some of which have traveled hundreds of kilometers looking for water.

Although capybaras are peaceful and very calm animals, fights and skirmishes between males do occur. This is due to the status and position in the group, for which males fight. It is interesting that fights within one family never lead to the death of one of the males. If fights occur between males from different groups, then such a disastrous outcome often happens. Capybaras become most active in the late afternoon and at dusk. In the morning hours they prefer to relax by the water. In intense heat, capybaras climb into shallow water and love to tinker in the mud. These animals do not make homes; they sleep on the ground. Capybaras' sleep is very sensitive and short-lived; they often wake up at night to eat.

Capybaras have a lot of talents: they swim and dive excellently, despite their curvaceous forms, and don’t forget about their membranes between their toes. In addition, water pigs can gallop, escaping from ill-wishers with large leaps. And the range of sounds they make is simply amazing.

Capybaras cackle funny, whistle, bark, make clicks, squeal, and grind their teeth. Each cry has its own symbol, which is very interesting and unusual. If animals sense danger, they notify others by barking. Capybaras squeal when they are very alarmed or something hurts. When talking to each other, they click funny, and when they fight, the males can hear the gnashing of their teeth.

If we talk about the character, then the capybaras are very phlegmatic, one might even say that they are slightly lazy. These animals are very friendly, they make contact with people without any problems, especially if they are treated to something. It is also not difficult to tame a capybara; it can become a devoted and affectionate friend, no worse than a dog. Even in circuses, capybaras perform successfully, because... are highly trainable. The disposition of these huge rodents is good-natured and meek, completely good-natured. In nature, capybaras live from 6 to 10 years, and in captivity - from 10 to 12.

Social structure and reproduction

As already mentioned, capybaras are herd, collective animals; they do not like loneliness and live in large families with a clear hierarchy. There is no specific mating season for capybaras; reproduction occurs year-round, but is especially active with the arrival of the rainy season. Cavaliers lure ladies by placing their fragrant marks on nearby plants. Males usually fertilize females directly in the water. Capybaras are polygamous animals; one female can have several sexual partners in one period.

Gestation of the cubs lasts about 150 days. Usually childbirth occurs once a year, sometimes this process can occur twice a year.

Little piglets are born right on the ground; the mother does not make any nest. Usually there are from 2 to 8 pieces. Cubs look the same as adults: they are covered with hair (a little lighter than that of mature individuals), sighted and toothy, only much smaller in size, they weigh about one and a half kilograms each.

Mother capybaras treat their offspring with milk for about three to four months, although they can chew grass almost immediately after birth. All females living in the flock look after and care for the offspring. Capybaras become mature and capable of reproduction by 18 months, when their weight reaches 30 or 40 kg.

People also exterminate capybaras by eating their meat, which tastes similar to pork. Haberdashery products are made from capybara skin, and all kinds of jewelry are made from large incisors. There is even such a funny and absurd fact known: three centuries ago, Catholic clergy recognized this rodent as a fish and allowed them to eat capybara meat during Lent. Today in Latin America there are entire capybara breeding farms. Their meat and subcutaneous fat are used in pharmaceuticals for the production of medicines. The value of capybara fat is comparable to that of a badger.

Population and species status

In our modern times, nothing threatens the capybara population; these interesting rodents are not under special protection. The number of capybaras is stable; no sharp declines have been observed. Even human activity does not particularly disturb these animals. Agricultural land and the development of pastures for livestock, on the contrary, are beneficial for capybaras. They find food and water on them during the dry season. There is a tendency that the number of animals in such improved agricultural areas is greater than in wild areas.

However, the capybara did not always have such a comfortable position. There were times when capybaras were destroyed in huge numbers in Colombia, and since 1980 the government has banned hunting of these animals. Because of the tasty meat, the Venezuelans killed a lot of capybaras, only in 1953 the government began to control the capture of large rodents, although this did not bring much success, people continued to mercilessly hunt capybaras. In 1968, zoological scientists developed an action plan to study the biological characteristics of these animals and their conservation. All these procedures brought the population into a stable state.

Currently, capybaras are listed by the IUCN as animals that are not threatened with extinction from the face of the planet.

Capybara- the only rodent with such an impressive size. Despite its large size, this animal is very meek, good-natured, sociable and affectionate. Capybaras tamed by humans become his truest and most loyal friends. Looking at these animals, it is impossible not to smile, because their calm and funny appearance incredibly lifts your spirits.

Fattened to the size of a large piglet. From the language of the South American Indians, where it comes from, the name translates as “Lord of Herbs.” The capybara is simply enormous in size, it is the largest rodent on Earth, and there is a belief that their ancestors were the size of a rhinoceros. Unlike guinea pigs, capybaras in their natural environment spend most of their lives in water, hence the second name. But they also feel great in city apartments as a pet.

Capybara

Habits and character of a rodent

The first rule is to discard the stereotype that since you are a rodent, you are stupid. The capybara has a fairly developed intelligence and herd instinct. In the wild, they live in small communities of about 20 individuals with a strict hierarchy. The dominant male owns all the females, to which other animals are denied access. These same instincts of possessiveness will persist at home, but you won’t see any aggression; rather, the animal will simply attract more attention to itself, poking your leg with its muzzle and inviting you to play.

But there is one problem with care - they constantly need water. Don't drink, just swim. Of course, you can fill the bathroom with water every day, but this will end up with the neighbors below. To solve this problem, it is better to get a capybara who has a country house with a swimming pool or a clean pond - there the rodent will feel at home.

Capybara among people

Animal characteristics:

Body length – up to 1.5 m;
Height – up to 65 cm;
Weight – up to 65 kg;
Life expectancy is up to 12 years in captivity.

Looking at the photo above, all doubts about the existence of a large rodent disappear.

Rodent care

The domestic capybara does not require any care at all. Just feed, give somewhere to swim, and play. Teeth, eyes, ears, fur - the animal will take care of everything itself.

Capybara with a cat

If you have little free time, then the capybara will find friends among your pets. You don’t have to worry about them - the capybara will not touch any animals, small children, or guests; they begin to show aggression only in self-defense. The first warning will be a sharp bark, reminiscent of dogs. But as soon as you hear a whistle, clicking, or rumbling, everything is fine, the animal is calm and everything is happy.

Capybara reading a book

The rodent has sufficient intelligence to be trained and can be taught simple tricks.

Nutrition

The diet is not complicated:

Grass, hay;
Vegetables fruits;
Canned dog food and dry food;
Food for rodents.

This is a rare case for animals, but you can even feed them food from our table, but only with a minimum of chemicals, preservatives, and other rubbish.

Snack

The first conquerors of America, unfortunately, appreciated the taste of capybara meat; it is very tender and tasty. In the wild they have few enemies - crocodiles, anacondas, and the king of cats, but the most merciless enemy has appeared - man. The number of rodents has become so small that they almost became a thing of history.