Common Name: Capybara
Scientific Name: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Family: Caviidae (same family as guinea pigs and cavies)
Origin: South America (found in Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay)
Status: Least Concern (IUCN), though hunted locally for meat, hide, and grease
Size: 3.5–4.5 feet (106–134 cm) long
Height: 20–24 inches (50–60 cm) at the shoulder
Weight: 35–66 kg (77–145 lbs), males slightly smaller than females
Body: Barrel-shaped, stocky with short legs and no tail
Head: Broad, blunt snout with small eyes, ears, and nose positioned on top of the head (adapted for swimming)
Fur: Coarse, brownish to reddish
Feet: Partially webbed toes for swimming
Lifespan: 6–10 years in the wild; up to 12 years in captivity
Social Structure: Highly social; live in groups of 10–20, sometimes up to 100 in rich habitats
Activity: Semi-aquatic; spend lots of time in water to escape predators and stay cool
Behavior:
Gentle, calm, and tolerant of other animals (often seen interacting peacefully with birds, monkeys, or livestock)
Communicate with barks, whistles, clicks, grunts, and purr-like noises
Intelligence: Can be tamed and kept as pets where legal, but require specialized care
Type: Strict herbivore (hindgut fermenter)
Main Foods: Grasses, aquatic plants, reeds, and sometimes fruits
Special Behavior: Coprophagy (eat their own droppings to digest fiber more efficiently)
Water Needs: Must have constant access to fresh water for both drinking and swimming
Natural Habitat: Savannas, wetlands, riverbanks, and marshes of South America
Adaptations: Excellent swimmers; can stay submerged for up to 5 minutes
Climate: Thrive in warm, tropical to subtropical environments
Breeding: Year-round in equatorial areas; seasonal in southern regions
Gestation: About 150 days (5 months)
Litter Size: 2–8 pups (average 4)
Young: Born precocial (fully furred, eyes open, able to graze within a week)
Parental Care: Young are cared for communally within the group
Malaysia
