---
title: "What the sources say about the Capybara | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "59 claims from the Capybara profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
image: "https://animaltracks.wiki/images/animals/capybara-1.webp"
canonical: "https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/capybara/sources/"
---

# What the sources say about the Capybara (*Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris*)

> 59 claims from the Capybara profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [Capybara](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/capybara/)

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

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-2.rlts.t10300a22190005.en

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Least Concern | IUCN Red List category: Least Concern (LC). |

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

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Hydrochoerus_hydrochaeris/

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Up to 66 kilograms (145 pounds) | Capybaras are the largest of rodents, weighing from 35 to 66 kg (note: 145 pounds, from ADW's 77.09 to 145.37 lb for 35 to 66 kg) |
| calm enough to let birds pick parasitic insects out of its fur | birds which pick parasitic insects out of capybara fur |
| the hottest hours of the day spent lounging in water | the hottest part of the day is spent in the water |
| Flooded grasslands, marsh edges, and lowland forests | flooded grasslands are a favored habitat, as are marsh edges and lowland forests |
| Grasses, aquatic plants, bark | feeding mainly on grasses and aquatic plants. Bark and fruit are consumed occasionally. |
| Underwater breath holding up to five minutes | can stay completely submerged for up to five minutes |
| partially webbed feet for a life half in the water | the feet are partially webbed ... make capybaras well-suited to semi-aquatic life |
| birds that pick parasitic insects out of its fur | birds which pick parasitic insects out of capybara fur |
| While grazing, they are constantly on the lookout for predators and give an alarm bark when one is spotted | While grazing, they are constantly on the lookout for predators and give an alarm bark when one is spotted. |
| that often sends the whole group rushing into the relative safety of the water | this often results in the whole group rushing into the relative safety of the water |
| There a capybara can hide with just its nostrils and eyes exposed, or stay completely submerged for up to five minutes | They often hide in the water, with just their nostrils and eyes exposed, and can stay completely submerged for up to five minutes. |
| Jaguars, green anacondas and spectacled caimans are among its known predators | Known Predators jaguars (Panthera onca) green anacondas (Eunectes murinus) spectacled caimans (Caiman crocodilus) |
| the largest of rodents | Capybaras are the largest of rodents |
| files them in Caviidae, the cavy family | Family Caviidae cavies (note: ADW's scientific classification table: Family Caviidae, common name cavies) |
| A full-grown capybara weighs 35 to 66 kilograms (77 to 145 pounds) | Range mass 35 to 66 kg 77.09 to 145.37 lb (note: 77 to 145 pounds, from ADW's 77.09 to 145.37 lb) |
| measures 106 to 134 centimeters (3.5 to 4.4 feet) long | Range length 106 to 134 cm 41.73 to 52.76 in (note: 3.5 to 4.4 feet, from ADW's 41.73 to 52.76 in) |
| females are slightly larger than males | Females of this species are slightly larger than males. |
| yellow-headed caracaras among the capybara's mutualists | yellow-headed caracaras (Milvago chimachima) (note: under ADW's Mutualist Species heading) |
| cattle tyrants among its commensals | cattle tyrants (Machetornis rixosa) (note: under ADW's Commensal/Parasitic Species heading) |
| birds that either pick parasitic insects out of a capybara's fur or follow it around to catch the insects it stirs up while grazing | They 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. |
| Built for a Life Half in the Water | make capybaras well-suited to semi-aquatic life (note: "half in the water" for ADW's "semi-aquatic") |
| standing up to 60 centimeters (2 feet) at the shoulder | standing up to 0.6 meters at the shoulder (note: 60 centimeters, from 0.6 meters) |
| Wild capybaras live about 6 years on average and as many as 10, and up to 12 years in captivity | Capybaras 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") |
| Capybaras are strictly South American, ranging through most of Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela and Colombia, south into the Argentinian pampas and west to the Andes | Hydrochoerus 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. |
| Flooded grasslands are a favorite, along with marsh edges and lowland forests where grazing is good and there is water year-round | flooded grasslands are a favored habitat, as are marsh edges and lowland forests where grazing is good and there is water year-round |
| A capybara's eyes, ears and nostrils sit on top of its head | the location of the eyes, ears, and nostrils on top of the head |
| it often hides in the water with just its nostrils and eyes exposed | They often hide in the water, with just their nostrils and eyes exposed |
| Its feet are partially webbed | the feet are partially webbed |
| its body is only slightly denser than water, which makes it a strong swimmer | Capybaras are strong swimmers, helped by the fact that their bodies are only slightly denser than water. |
| capybaras stay constantly on the lookout for predators and give an alarm bark when one is spotted | While grazing, they are constantly on the lookout for predators and give an alarm bark when one is spotted. |
| that often sends the whole group rushing for the water | this often results in the whole group rushing into the relative safety of the water |
| a capybara can stay completely submerged for up to five minutes | can stay completely submerged for up to five minutes |
| Capybaras graze mainly on grasses and aquatic plants | Capybaras are grazers, feeding mainly on grasses and aquatic plants. |
| They also spend part of each morning re-eating the previous day's food | They are also cophrophagous and spend part of each morning re-ingesting the previous day's food. |
| an animal with no group is shut out of most grazing habitat, so solitary capybaras are seldom found | without a group, an individual is excluded from most grazing habitat and has no chance of finding a mate, so solitary capybaras are seldom found |
| Animal Diversity Web counts yellow-headed caracaras among the capybara's mutualists and cattle tyrants among its commensals | yellow-headed caracaras (Milvago chimachima) ... cattle tyrants (Machetornis rixosa) (note: the Mutualist Species and Commensal/Parasitic Species lists, a few lines apart) |
| tags: herbivore | Capybaras 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)) |
| tags: savanna | Terrestrial Biomes savanna or grassland |
| tags: wetlands | flooded grasslands are a favored habitat, as are marsh edges and lowland forests where grazing is good and there is water year-round |
| tags: freshwater | Capybaras are found only in areas where water is easily accessible |
| weightKg: 50 | Range mass 35 to 66 kg (note: battleStats.weightKg, midpoint of ADW's adult range; Medium class throughout (SDZ's 27 to 79 kg is Medium too)) |

## Capybara. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/capybara

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Unhurried dawn-and-dusk grazing | They tend to eat around dawn and dusk |
| across South America east of the Andes | Capys are found east of the Andes (note: ADW for this species: "a strictly South American rodent species ... west to the Andes") |
| reeds, and melons | capybaras eat reeds, grains, melons, and squashes |
| The Biggest Rodent on Earth | No, it's a capybara, the largest rodent in the world! |
| Grass by the Kilo, Twice | An 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) |
| is the largest rodent in the world, closely related to cavies and guinea pigs | No, 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 pigs (note: two clauses from the same ABOUT section, a few sentences apart) |
| Like mice, squirrels and porcupines, it carries ever-growing front teeth | they share some common features with mice, squirrels, and porcupines. The most well-known of those features are probably those ever-growing front teeth. |
| uses them for grazing on grass and water plants | Capybaras use their long, sharp teeth for grazing on grass and water plants. |
| an adult can eat 2.7 to 3.6 kilograms (6 to 8 pounds) of grass a day | An adult capy can eat 6 to 8 pounds (2.7 to 3.6 kilograms) of grass per day! |
| In the dry season, when the fresh grasses and water plants dry up, they switch to reeds, grains and melons | During the dry season, when fresh grasses and water plants dry up, capybaras eat reeds, grains, melons, and squashes. |
| They chew like a cow but share no family tree with one | Even though rodents aren't closely related to ruminants like goats, cows, and giraffes, capybaras regurgitate their food to chew it some more. |
| Capybaras 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 | capybaras 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. |
| it gets them beneficial bacteria that help break down the thick fiber in their meals | They also eat their own poop to get beneficial bacteria to help their stomach break down the thick fiber in their meals. |
| Capybaras usually live in small groups of about ten | Capybaras usually live in small groups of about 10 individuals |
| as many as 40 may be found together in the wet season | During the wet season, as many as 40 capys may be found together. |
| the young can easily fall victim to caimans, ocelots, harpy eagles and anacondas | since they can easily fall victim to caimans, ocelots, harpy eagles, and anacondas |
| That build pays off the moment danger shows up | use the water itself to escape from danger |