Capybara 28cm

Physical Characteristics
A capybara is a large mammal in the rodent family. Capybaras have heavy, barrel-shaped bodies and short heads with reddish-brown fur on the upper part of their body that turns yellowish-brown underneath. It is the largest of the rodent family. It looks a lot like a giant Beaver or a miniature hippopotamus. Webbed feet help them swim and can measure up to 4.3 ft in length, weighing up to a 45.3 kgs. They have no tail and only 20 teeth.

Habitat
Capybaras live in the forested areas in South America around water as they are aquatic creatures. They are found on the far East and Northeast regions of the country. They also live in African rainforests. They like densely forested areas near bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds and marshes such as flooded savannah and along rivers in tropical forest.

Behaviour
Capybaras are social animals, usually found in groups, between 10 and 30 controlled by a dominant male. They communicate through a combination of scent and sound, being very vocal animals with purrs and alarm barks, whistles and clicks, squeals and grunts. Capybaras are excellent swimmers and can survive completely underwater for up to five minutes, an ability they will use to evade predators. During midday, as temperatures increase, Capybaras wallow in water to keep cool and then graze in late afternoons and early evenings. They sleep little, usually dozing off and on throughout the day and grazing into and through the night.

Breeding
Capybaras reach sexual maturity within 22 months and breed when conditions are perfect, which can be once per year or throughout the year. Capybara gestation is 130-150 days and usually produces a litter of four capybara babies, but may produce between two and eight in a single litter.

Diet
Capybaras eat mostly grass, bamboo and leaves.

Strange and Interesting Facts
If necessary, a Capybara can sleep underwater, keeping its nose just at the waterline.