A large rodent of South American watersides. It lives in groups, grazes on land and uses water to rest or escape danger.
Its eyes, ears and nostrils sit high on the head, and its feet are partly webbed. Its length ranges from 106 to 134 centimetres.
Capybaras live near rivers, lakes and marshes. Partly webbed feet aid swimming; high-set eyes, ears and nostrils remain above water while much of the body is submerged.
Water offers refuge and cooling. On land they graze on grasses and aquatic plants; fruits and bark may enter the diet during dry seasons.
Access to freshwater supports their use of grasslands and savannas. Habitat change from agricultural and urban expansion, alongside hunting, threatens the places they use.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
Agricultural and urban expansion, forest loss and hunting are pressures. Freshwater and surrounding vegetation together support the species’ daily life.