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https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/cabybara-facts#:~:text=Like%20beavers%2C%20capybaras%20are%20strong,drying%20out%20quickly%20on%20land.

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Anatomy

Capybaras are the largest rodents on earth. They can weigh more than 100 lbs (45 kg) and grow to be 4 feet (1.2 m) long and 2 feet (0.6 m) tall - much larger than their guinea pig relatives! They have a heavy, barrel-shaped body which sits on relatively squat legs, shorter in the front than the back. Their brown fur is coarse and sparse enough to reveal the grey skin beneath it. Capybaras have partially webbed feet, which help to propel them through the water or swampy areas. Similar to a hippopotamus, the capybara's eyes, nose, and ears are located on the top of its head, allowing it to peek above the surface for a breath of air and a quick check for predators while the bulk of its body remains hidden beneath the water.

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Habitat

Capybaras are found in Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Northeast Argentina and Uruguay. They are semi-aquatic and will spend most of their time in dense vegetation around rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes and swamps. Feeding mostly in the afternoon, and on and off at night, capybaras tend to doze in the morning. They take short naps throughout the day while other members of their group stand guard.

Diet

They are herbivores and eat the vegetation that lines water sources and other aquatic plants. An adult capybara can eat 6 to 8 lbs (2.7 to 3.6 kg) of fresh grass a day. They also eat their own poop, which contains beneficial bacteria that helps their stomach to break down the fiber from the grass. During the dry season or in drought conditions, capybaras will also eat grains, melons, reeds and squashes.

Threats

Capybaras are naturally threatened by jaguars, caimans and anacondas, and their young can be taken by ocelots and harpy eagles. Their main threat, however, is humans - they are hunted extensively for their meat and their hide, which can be made into leather. In some countries, the practice of farming capybaras has sprung up, relieving some of the pressure on wild populations. As with all rainforest inhabitants, deforestation also poses a threat.

Did You Know

When threatened, capybaras will jump into the water and hide beneath the surface. They can hold their breath for almost five minutes! They are also very vocal animals and communicate with each other through barks, chirps, whistles and purrs. They do this to keep track of one another and their young. They also use scent glands to mark their territory and communicate.

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Capybaras are the largest rodents on earth. They can weigh more than 100 lbs (45 kg) and grow to be 4 feet (1.2 m) long and 2 feet (0.6 m) tall - much larger than their guinea pig relatives! They have a heavy, barrel-shaped body which sits on relatively squat legs, shorter in the front than the back.

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Capybaras are a giant cavy rodent. The Capybaras scientific name is Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris. They are native to South America. Capybaras can be as tall as 20-24 inches and 3.5 - 4.4 feet in length. An adult Capybara can weigh 60 to 174 pounds depending on the gender.

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The Capybara or Greater Capybara (Hydrochoeris hydrochaeris)

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The Capybara or Greater Capybara (Hydrochoeris hydrochaeris)

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The Lesser Capybara (Hydrochoeris isthmius).

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The Lesser Capybara (Hydrochoeris isthmius).

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The Lesser Capybara is noticeably smaller than The Greater Capybara and tend to have a darker brown coat.

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Capybaras are found throughout almost all countries of South America. They live in forested areas near bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds, and marshes. You can also see them in flooded savannahs, and along rivers in the tropical rainforest. Capybara are herbivores, they use their long sharp teeth for grazing on grass and water plants. Capybaras will also eat reeds, grains, melons, and squashes.

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They say that The capybara's ancestors evolved in Africa around 80 million years ago and arrived in South America 40 million years later. Its relatives are all normal-size rodents because rodents tend to be tiny because smaller animals can hide better. But when the capybaras arrived in South America, the region was almost completely out of predators, which allowed their ancestors to start getting bigger. This tells us that the Lesser Capybaras are exposed to more predators so they have to be smaller.

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Capybaras all have a unique form of insulin. Besides regulating their blood sugar, insulin also tells cells to divide. Millions of years of natural selection increased Capybara's insulin's ability to tell their cells to divide. This caused a boost in their growth.

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Capybara's have webbed feet to help them be strong swimmers. They also have high placed eyes, nostrils, and ears on their head so they can stay hidden from predators in the water. Their reddish-dark brown fur is long and brittle, so they can dry quickly on land. These adaptations allow them to survive in the South American rainforests.

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Capybaras live in groups of up to 40. The groups are stable and work together to defend their habitat. The females raise their babies together, and young capybaras will nurse from several different moms. The herd also stays together to watch for predators and keep an eye on the young capybaras who are more susceptible to predators because of their size.

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A Cavy is part of the family Caviidae. It is a South American rodent that is closely related to guinea pigs and capybara. They weigh about 3.3 pounds with a body 6 to 16 inches long. Cavies are found across the South American continent, in open areas, moist savannas, thorn forests, and scrub deserts.

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One key difference between a capybara and a cavy is their size, capybaras are significantly larger than cavies. While Capybara's big size helps them by making them less vulnerable to attacks from predators. The cavy's have adapted to rely more on agility and concealment to avoid predators because of their small size. Their sizes allow them to maneuver through dense vegetation and hide in small spaces. These animals are similar but have learned adapt in different ways through their size.

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Giant Otters or Pteronura brasiliensis are found in freshwater habitats throughout South America. Giant otters are the largest otter species. They have water-repellent dark brown fur. Their webbed feet and tails make them strong swimmers. They also have small ears and nostrils that can close underwater. Giant otters can reach lengths of up to 5 to 6 feet, including their tail, and can weigh between 57 to 71 pounds.

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These animals have similar structural adaptations because they live in the same environment. They both have webbed feet that make them strong swimmers and fur-made for the water. They are also the largest of their species. Even though these animals are not closely related they have similar characteristics because they live in the same environment.

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Natural selection is the process when organisms that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce better than those that are less adapted. Reproductive success leads to the gradual evolution over time. Capybaras are semi-aquatic mammals because they live in a variety of habitats ranging from savannas to dense forests near water bodies. They have evolved to their environment physiologically, structurally and behaviorally.