Capybara
Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris
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Capybaras are the largest living rodents. They have a rectangular head, coarse brown hair, small high-set eyes, and webbed feet. In forests they occur in groups of two to six but in the open grasslands of South America (Los Llanos or Pantanal) they can be seen in very large groups where they are the main prey of jaguar. They have an average litter of four that live together with others in a crèche. Capybaras have one litter per year, and nursing mothers suckle any youngster that demands milk. Due to their life history traits, capybaras are able to be farmed for meat, leather, and oil, which happens in some areas of South America.
