AnimalTracks.wiki

What the sources say

CapybaraHydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Every figure, record and mechanism on the Capybara profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 59 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

Reid 2016

Reid (2016). Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T10300A22190005.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysIUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC).

Source
02

Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (capybara). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.

The page saysUp to 66 kilograms (145 pounds)
The source saysCapybaras are the largest of rodents, weighing from 35 to 66 kgNote: 145 pounds, from ADW's 77.09 to 145.37 lb for 35 to 66 kg
The page sayscalm enough to let birds pick parasitic insects out of its fur
The source saysbirds which pick parasitic insects out of capybara fur
The page saysthe hottest hours of the day spent lounging in water
The source saysthe hottest part of the day is spent in the water
The page saysFlooded grasslands, marsh edges, and lowland forests
The source saysflooded grasslands are a favored habitat, as are marsh edges and lowland forests
The page saysGrasses, aquatic plants, bark
The source saysfeeding mainly on grasses and aquatic plants. Bark and fruit are consumed occasionally.
The page saysUnderwater breath holding up to five minutes
The source sayscan stay completely submerged for up to five minutes
The page sayspartially webbed feet for a life half in the water
The source saysthe feet are partially webbed ... make capybaras well-suited to semi-aquatic life
The page saysbirds that pick parasitic insects out of its fur
The source saysbirds which pick parasitic insects out of capybara fur
The page saysWhile grazing, they are constantly on the lookout for predators and give an alarm bark when one is spotted
The source saysWhile grazing, they are constantly on the lookout for predators and give an alarm bark when one is spotted.
The page saysthat often sends the whole group rushing into the relative safety of the water
The source saysthis often results in the whole group rushing into the relative safety of the water
The page saysThere a capybara can hide with just its nostrils and eyes exposed, or stay completely submerged for up to five minutes
The source saysThey often hide in the water, with just their nostrils and eyes exposed, and can stay completely submerged for up to five minutes.
The page saysJaguars, green anacondas and spectacled caimans are among its known predators
The source saysKnown Predators jaguars (Panthera onca) green anacondas (Eunectes murinus) spectacled caimans (Caiman crocodilus)
The page saysthe largest of rodents
The source saysCapybaras are the largest of rodents
The page saysfiles them in Caviidae, the cavy family
The source saysFamily Caviidae caviesNote: ADW's scientific classification table: Family Caviidae, common name cavies
The page saysA full-grown capybara weighs 35 to 66 kilograms (77 to 145 pounds)
The source saysRange mass 35 to 66 kg 77.09 to 145.37 lbNote: 77 to 145 pounds, from ADW's 77.09 to 145.37 lb
The page saysmeasures 106 to 134 centimeters (3.5 to 4.4 feet) long
The source saysRange length 106 to 134 cm 41.73 to 52.76 inNote: 3.5 to 4.4 feet, from ADW's 41.73 to 52.76 in
The page saysfemales are slightly larger than males
The source saysFemales of this species are slightly larger than males.
The page saysyellow-headed caracaras among the capybara's mutualists
The source saysyellow-headed caracaras (Milvago chimachima)Note: under ADW's Mutualist Species heading
The page sayscattle tyrants among its commensals
The source sayscattle tyrants (Machetornis rixosa)Note: under ADW's Commensal/Parasitic Species heading
The page saysbirds that either pick parasitic insects out of a capybara's fur or follow it around to catch the insects it stirs up while grazing
The source saysThey are also mutualists or commensals with several types of birds which pick parasitic insects out of capybara fur or follow grazing capybaras and eat the insects they stir up from the grass.
The page saysBuilt for a Life Half in the Water
The source saysmake capybaras well-suited to semi-aquatic lifeNote: "half in the water" for ADW's "semi-aquatic"
The page saysstanding up to 60 centimeters (2 feet) at the shoulder
The source saysstanding up to 0.6 meters at the shoulderNote: 60 centimeters, from 0.6 meters
The page saysWild capybaras live about 6 years on average and as many as 10, and up to 12 years in captivity
The source saysCapybaras live about 6 years on average (and as many as 10 years) in the wild and up to 12 years in captivity.Note: San Diego Zoo's current page agrees: "Up to 12 years in expert care, up to 10 years in the wilderness"
The page saysCapybaras are strictly South American, ranging through most of Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela and Colombia, south into the Argentinian pampas and west to the Andes
The source saysHydrochoerus hydrochaeris is a strictly South American rodent species. Its range extends throughout most of Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Columbia, south into the Argentinian pampas, and west to the Andes.
The page saysFlooded grasslands are a favorite, along with marsh edges and lowland forests where grazing is good and there is water year-round
The source saysflooded grasslands are a favored habitat, as are marsh edges and lowland forests where grazing is good and there is water year-round
The page saysA capybara's eyes, ears and nostrils sit on top of its head
The source saysthe location of the eyes, ears, and nostrils on top of the head
The page saysit often hides in the water with just its nostrils and eyes exposed
The source saysThey often hide in the water, with just their nostrils and eyes exposed
The page saysIts feet are partially webbed
The source saysthe feet are partially webbed
The page saysits body is only slightly denser than water, which makes it a strong swimmer
The source saysCapybaras are strong swimmers, helped by the fact that their bodies are only slightly denser than water.
The page sayscapybaras stay constantly on the lookout for predators and give an alarm bark when one is spotted
The source saysWhile grazing, they are constantly on the lookout for predators and give an alarm bark when one is spotted.
The page saysthat often sends the whole group rushing for the water
The source saysthis often results in the whole group rushing into the relative safety of the water
The page saysa capybara can stay completely submerged for up to five minutes
The source sayscan stay completely submerged for up to five minutes
The page saysCapybaras graze mainly on grasses and aquatic plants
The source saysCapybaras are grazers, feeding mainly on grasses and aquatic plants.
The page saysThey also spend part of each morning re-eating the previous day's food
The source saysThey are also cophrophagous and spend part of each morning re-ingesting the previous day's food.
The page saysan animal with no group is shut out of most grazing habitat, so solitary capybaras are seldom found
The source sayswithout a group, an individual is excluded from most grazing habitat and has no chance of finding a mate, so solitary capybaras are seldom found
The page saysAnimal Diversity Web counts yellow-headed caracaras among the capybara's mutualists and cattle tyrants among its commensals
The source saysyellow-headed caracaras (Milvago chimachima) ... cattle tyrants (Machetornis rixosa)Note: the Mutualist Species and Commensal/Parasitic Species lists, a few lines apart
The page saystags: herbivore
The source saysCapybaras are grazers, feeding mainly on grasses and aquatic plants. Bark and fruit are consumed occasionally.Note: replaces insectivore, which ADW's diet list contradicts (herbivore, folivore, lignivore, coprophage)
The page saystags: savanna
The source saysTerrestrial Biomes savanna or grassland
The page saystags: wetlands
The source saysflooded grasslands are a favored habitat, as are marsh edges and lowland forests where grazing is good and there is water year-round
The page saystags: freshwater
The source saysCapybaras are found only in areas where water is easily accessible
The page saysweightKg: 50
The source saysRange mass 35 to 66 kgNote: battleStats.weightKg, midpoint of ADW's adult range; Medium class throughout (SDZ's 27 to 79 kg is Medium too)

Source
03

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance

Capybara. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

The page saysUnhurried dawn-and-dusk grazing
The source saysThey tend to eat around dawn and dusk
The page saysacross South America east of the Andes
The source saysCapys are found east of the AndesNote: ADW for this species: "a strictly South American rodent species ... west to the Andes"
The page saysreeds, and melons
The source sayscapybaras eat reeds, grains, melons, and squashes
The page saysThe Biggest Rodent on Earth
The source saysNo, it's a capybara, the largest rodent in the world!
The page saysGrass by the Kilo, Twice
The source saysAn adult capy can eat 6 to 8 pounds (2.7 to 3.6 kilograms) of grass per day!Note: "twice" is the section's sourced second pass: they regurgitate to chew again and re-ingest the previous day's food
The page saysis the largest rodent in the world, closely related to cavies and guinea pigs
The source saysNo, it's a capybara, the largest rodent in the world! ... we now know that the capybara is a rodent, closely related to cavies and guinea pigsNote: two clauses from the same ABOUT section, a few sentences apart
The page saysLike mice, squirrels and porcupines, it carries ever-growing front teeth
The source saysthey share some common features with mice, squirrels, and porcupines. The most well-known of those features are probably those ever-growing front teeth.
The page saysuses them for grazing on grass and water plants
The source saysCapybaras use their long, sharp teeth for grazing on grass and water plants.
The page saysan adult can eat 2.7 to 3.6 kilograms (6 to 8 pounds) of grass a day
The source saysAn adult capy can eat 6 to 8 pounds (2.7 to 3.6 kilograms) of grass per day!
The page saysIn the dry season, when the fresh grasses and water plants dry up, they switch to reeds, grains and melons
The source saysDuring the dry season, when fresh grasses and water plants dry up, capybaras eat reeds, grains, melons, and squashes.
The page saysThey chew like a cow but share no family tree with one
The source saysEven though rodents aren't closely related to ruminants like goats, cows, and giraffes, capybaras regurgitate their food to chew it some more.
The page saysCapybaras regurgitate their food to chew it some more, working it side to side like a camel instead of up and down the way we do
The source sayscapybaras regurgitate their food to chew it some more. They chew their food from side to side, like a camel, rather than up and down, like we do.
The page saysit gets them beneficial bacteria that help break down the thick fiber in their meals
The source saysThey also eat their own poop to get beneficial bacteria to help their stomach break down the thick fiber in their meals.
The page saysCapybaras usually live in small groups of about ten
The source saysCapybaras usually live in small groups of about 10 individuals
The page saysas many as 40 may be found together in the wet season
The source saysDuring the wet season, as many as 40 capys may be found together.
The page saysthe young can easily fall victim to caimans, ocelots, harpy eagles and anacondas
The source sayssince they can easily fall victim to caimans, ocelots, harpy eagles, and anacondas
The page saysThat build pays off the moment danger shows up
The source saysuse the water itself to escape from danger

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.