Capybara Facts

About the capybara

You can find capybaras in every South American country except Chile, in savannas and thick forests near rivers, lakes and marshes. Grasses and water plants make up most of the menu. They are social animals, usually traveling in groups of 10 to 20, and sometimes gatherings reach 100.

Adults measure 106 to 134 cm (3.48 to 4.40 ft) long, stand 50 to 62 cm at the shoulder, and usually weigh 35 to 66 kg (77 to 146 lb). Females run a little heavier than males. The body is barrel-shaped with a broad head, reddish-brown fur on top and yellowish-brown below, slightly webbed feet and only a stub of a tail. Unusually for a rodent, it has sweat glands in its hairy skin. Guinea pigs and rock cavies count among its close relatives.

Did you know?

• The heaviest wild capybara on record, a female from Brazil, weighed 91 kg (201 lb).
• Capybara fur is coarse, ranging from 30 to 120 mm long, with no underhair.
• People hunt capybaras for meat, hide, and grease from their thick, fatty skin.