Species Profile

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Category
🐾 Mammals

Capybara

The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest living rodent in the world. Also called chigüire and carpincho, it is a member of the genus Hydrochoerus, of which the only other extant member is the lesser capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius). Its close relatives include guinea pigs and rock cavies, and it is more distantly related to the agouti, the chinchilla, and the coypu. Native to South America, the capybara inhabits savannas and dense forests and lives near bodies...

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