The capybara is the largest rodent. Description, photo

Capybara, or capybara ( Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) is the largest rodent in the world. She is a member of the capybara genus ( Hydrochoerus), which includes another living species - a small capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius) and two extinct species. Capybaras are closely related to guinea pigs and mountain pigs, and are more distantly related to agoutis, chinchillas, and nutrias.

Classification

• Domain: ;
• Kingdom: ;
• Type of: ;
• Class: ;
• Squad:
• Family: Pigs;
• Genus: Capybara;
• Species: Capybara.

Description and dimensions

The capybara has short limbs ending in partially webbed toes. The forelimbs are characterized by the presence of four fingers, while the hind limbs are characterized by three fingers. The fingers have short and powerful claws. Unlike some rodents, the capybara does not have a tail.

The capybara has a broad head with short, rounded ears, a large muzzle, and small, widely spaced nostrils. This large rodent is covered with coarse hair, 30 to 120 mm long. The color of the animal ranges from dark brown to reddish and from light brown to light yellow. Hair covers sweat glands that are unique to capybaras. These animals are the only rodents that have sweat glands in their hair.

Hydrochaeris hyrochaeris on average, it weighs between 35 and 65.5 kg and has a body length of up to 1.35 m. Males have sebaceous glands on the top of the snout, and this feature indicates their sexual maturity. On the belly of the female are six pairs of nipples. The genitalia of both sexes are hidden, making it difficult to determine the sex of the animal. The incisors of males are usually larger and wider than those of females of the same age.

Lifespan

Life expectancy in the wild is 7 to 10 years, and capybaras live for about 12 years in captivity.

Habitat and geographic range

Capybaras are only found in areas where water is readily available: flooded grasslands are their preferred species, but they are also found in wetlands and lowland forests where there is good pasture and water is available all year round. However, these rodents occupy a range of habitats, including dry forest, scrub, and grasslands.

In general, the capybara is distributed from Panama to northern Argentina. The capybara occupies an area of ​​10 to 15 hectares, depending on the area, the abundance of food and the distance to the water source.

reproduction

The capybara becomes sexually mature when it reaches a body weight of 30 kg, which usually coincides with the age of 1.5 years. The female, as a rule, is born from one to eight cubs. Capybaras from Paraguay usually give birth to one to four cubs; this is less than that of capybaras from other regions. Mating usually occurs at the start of the rainy season, which begins around April or May. If habitats are rich in resources, capybaras may breed more than once a year.

The gestation period lasts about 120 days, and the birth of offspring falls on September-November. The young are not born in a nest, as in some other rodents, but somewhere in their habitat where there is cover. In open areas, newborn capybaras can become prey to birds of prey, including caracars and urubas, as well as caimans.

Cubs are born fully furred, with open eyes and a full set of teeth. They feed on mother's milk for three to four months, but milk is not their main source of nutrients. Grasses are a major contributor to the diet of capybaras for both adults and juveniles.

Food

Capybaras are herbivores that primarily feed on aquatic plants, grass, reeds, tree bark, grains, green leaves (mainly cassava), as well as vegetables such as squash, and fruits including bananas and melons. Plants consumed in summer are not eaten in winter due to reduced nutritional value. They also feed on their own feces.

Behavior

The capybara mostly occupies habitats near water. They can be found along most river banks, wetlands, wetlands, forested areas, and former riverbeds. As long as there is a water source, capybaras will occupy this area. Capybaras use water for drinking, bathing and protection from. They need water to lower their body temperature (their sweat glands are not able to cool the body through sweating). Mud near a water source is used as a defense against roundworm infestation.

Capybaras need large areas for grazing and resting. During the rainy season, capybaras use the entire area of ​​their habitat. During the dry season, when there is a shortage of resources and food, they live closer to the water source. The dry season usually results in a decline in the capybara population due to starvation, increased predation, and disease.

Capybaras can run, walk and swim. Although they are rodents, they are excellent swimmers and divers. Young capybaras tend to stay out of the water. Their behavior suggests that they are aware of the dangers of water and prefer to graze on dry land. As a rule, these animals move from pasture to pasture along straight paths established by the herd.

Groups range from single pairs, to families, and even complex groups with large numbers of adults (males and females) and their young. The size of the groups varies throughout the year; the average size is 5.6 individuals during the rainy season and 15.9 individuals during the dry months. There is usually one dominant male, several other males, their offspring, and several females. Dominant males may chase other males and show aggression towards them. These same dominant males never show aggression towards females, juveniles, or newborns. Young capybaras play and act aggressively towards each other.

Territory marking of the capybaras is the responsibility of the dominant male. It uses the sebaceous glands on its snout and rubs them against bushes, stems and plants. Females, juveniles, and subordinate males also use their sebaceous glands to mark territory, but do not do so as frequently as dominant males. Urine is also used to mark capybara territories. Marking helps the herd to prevent other capybara groups from entering (groups tend not to mix) and helps the group stay within its own territory.

Vocalizations

Capybara vocalizations are unique to rodents. When a predator is close or approaching, they make a loud sound that will continue until the predator has left or the whole group has entered the water for protection. Young or newborn capybaras whistle when they need their mother, and they will not stop making this sound until the mother returns. Adult females also vocalize when searching for an adult male. Similarly, the female will not stop until the male arrives. A sense of contentment is expressed by a low clicking sound, while a grunt or purr reveals their submissive mood. Males chatter their teeth angrily to show their aggressive mood.

capybara as a pet

In some countries keeping capybaras as pets is illegal, while in others a special license and legal permission is required. In addition to high maintenance costs, their gregarious nature also makes it difficult for them to live alone in captivity. Proper care includes:

Adequate water supply

A large body of water of about 3.5 meters should be provided as they are semi-aquatic and love to swim as well as submerge during the day.

Proper fencing

These are very fast and agile animals that can climb even through small holes. Therefore, proper fencing must be provided to prevent their escape.

Territory

These large animals need enough space to move freely. Make sure the property has a sunny spot where they can bask, as well as a shady area to keep them warm. A special lamp can also be placed in their living quarters during cold weather to keep the capybaras warm.

Food

Since they feed mainly on grass, they require a large lawn or field of grass. They should also be provided with fresh fruits, vegetables, hay and cereals. Giving them plenty of branches and sticks to chew on helps rodents wear down their teeth, preventing various diseases.

Economic value to people: positive

Capybaras are valued for their quality meat and skin. The meat is especially popular during Lent, the 40-day period leading up to Easter, because it is approved by the Catholic Church as an alternative to beef or pork. (Supposedly, the capybaras' semi-aquatic lifestyle convinced the early priests that they looked like fish.) To cut down on illegal hunting, it was suggested that capybaras be farmed, and the animals were domesticated fairly easily, at least in small numbers.

Economic value to people: negative

Capybaras sometimes come to gardens or farms in search of food, including melons, squash, or cereals. It has also been suggested that they are carriers of certain diseases and may infect livestock.

Role in the ecosystem

According to the IUCN, capybaras are of Least Concern and therefore not endangered.

Due to its extreme unpretentiousness and phlegmatic disposition, this peaceful rodent could become an ideal pet. Two circumstances interfere: the capybara is too huge to live in an apartment and cannot live without a reservoir (pond or pool).

Description of the capybara

The water pig is the official scientific name for the capybara.. The natives of South and Central America call the capybara in different ways - caprincho, poncho, corpincho, capigua and chiguire. It is believed that the rodent received its most accurate name from the Brazilian Tupi tribes, who called it the “thin grass eater” (capybara).

Appearance

The English writer Gerald Durrell compared the rodent (having a calmly patronizing expression of the muzzle) with a thoughtful lion, not forgetting to add that the capybara, unlike the king of beasts, is a good-natured vegetarian.

It remains to be wondered how this devourer of aquatic plants manages to gain such a record (against the background of other rodents) weight: males weigh 54-63 kg, females - from 62 to 74 kg. But this is not the limit - it is known that one female individual corroded up to 81, the second - up to 91 kg.

The height at the withers is comparable to that of a large dog and reaches 50-62 cm. The capybara has a wide head with an almost square muzzle, equipped with neat ears, small wide-spaced nostrils and small eyes.

The animal has 20 teeth, the most “terrible” of which are huge bright orange incisors resembling sharp penknives. Cheek teeth, devoid of roots, grow throughout life. The tongue, due to the numerous tubercles, looks thick.

It is interesting! The capybara's coat is coarse and hard, grows up to 3-12 cm, but does not have an undercoat. Thanks to the latter circumstance, the rodent's skin quickly burns under the sun, which is why the capybara often wallows in the mud.

The capybara looks like a barrel overgrown with wool, complemented by a massive rump without a tail. On the forelimbs there are four powerful and rather long fingers connected by swimming membranes, on the hind limbs there are three.

The external genitalia in males and females are hidden under the anal sac. The color of the body varies from reddish chestnut to dark brown, but the belly is always lighter in color, usually yellowish brown. Some animals have black spots on their faces. Young capybaras are always lighter than their older relatives.

Range, habitats

The capybara is native to Central and South America, including Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia (east), Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, Argentina (northeast), Panama and Guyana.

The capybara prefers the coastal areas of rivers, swamps, lakes and artificial reservoirs overgrown with pistia and water hyacinth. It also lives in Chaco forests, grassland (with finger hog/guineagrass) and farmland, semi-deciduous forests and flooded savannahs.

The rodent can be found at higher elevations (up to 1300 m), as well as on brackish and waterlogged soils, including mangrove swamps. The main condition is the presence nearby (no further than half a kilometer) of an open reservoir.

Lifestyle

The whole life of the capybara is concentrated in the water - here it quenches thirst and hunger, reproduces, rests and regulates body temperature, not forgetting to roll in the mud.

Rodents form family groups (10-20 animals) resembling a harem: a dominant male, several mature females with children, and males who unconditionally yield the role of inseminator to the leader. The latter, feeling the competition, often drives out rivals, which is why 5-10% of males live as hermits.

Capybaras (both males and females) have paired anal glands near the anus, which release an aroma that is individual for each individual. And the secret produced by the olfactory gland of the male indicates his position in the herd.

A plot of 1-10 hectares (and sometimes 200 hectares) occupied by a group is marked with nasal and anal secrets, however, civil strife still happens. By the way, the struggle for leadership within the same herd never ends in death, but such a bleak ending is quite possible if males from different groups fight.

During the rainy season, capybaras disperse over a vast area, but drought forces herds to gather on river and lake shores. At this time, hundreds of capybaras accumulate around the reservoir, sometimes overcoming more than 1 thousand km in search of life-giving moisture.

In the mornings, the animals bask at the water's edge. The scorching sun drives them into shallow water or muddy slush. Burrows water pigs do not dig, but are laid directly on the ground. Sometimes you can see how capybaras take a typical dog posture, sitting on their hips.

They differ from other rodents in the lack of the ability to hold their food with their front paws. The peak of activity is observed after 16 hours and with the onset of dusk, after 20:00. Capybaras sleep little, waking up in the middle of the night to refresh themselves.

They mastered two variants of ground movement - shuffling gait and galloping. In danger, they move away from the enemy with quick jumps. Capybaras are excellent swimmers, aided by interdigital membranes and an impressive fat layer that increases buoyancy.

Capybaras can cackle, scream, bark, whistle, squeal, whimper, snap and grind their teeth.

It is interesting! Cry, like barking, they use to alert the herd of a threat, and squeal if they are in pain or anxiety. Communicating with relatives, they make clicking sounds, and gnashing of teeth usually accompanies skirmishes between males.

Capybaras, which are kept in captivity, have learned to beg for food with sounds similar to whimpering.

Lifespan

Water pigs that end up in zoos or private owners show a longer lifespan than animals living in the wild. Slaves live 10-12 years, and free capybaras - from 6 to 10 years.

Nutrition, diet of capybaras

Capybaras are herbivorous mammals that include in their diet a wide range of vegetation (mainly with a high content of proteins). Natural food for capybaras are:

• semi-aquatic plants (Hymenachne amplexicaulis, Reimarochloa acuta, Panicum laxum and rice leersia);
• annual herb Paratheria prostrata;
• drought-resistant species of axonopus and Sporobolus indicus;
• sedge (at the end of the rainy season);
• bark and fruits of trees;
• pork, sour and rosichka;
• hay and tubers.

Water pigs often wander into fields with sugar cane, cereals and melons, which is why rodents have been blacklisted as agricultural pests.

During a drought, they become a food competitor for livestock feeding on pastures.. Capyboats are typical coprophages, devouring their feces, which helps the animals digest the cellulose contained in the feed.

Capybara breeding

Capybaras mate year-round, although they mate more often at the start of the rainy season, which is April/May in Venezuela and October/November in Brazil.

Tune in to procreation, the male half lures partners, marking the surrounding plants with their secrets. The estrous cycle of the female lasts 7-9 days, and the stage of susceptibility is only 8 hours.

The male pursues the female, ripe for copulation, first on land, then in shallow water. As soon as the female has stopped, the partner attaches himself from behind, making 6-10 energetic pushes. Often, the female can withstand up to 20 sexual intercourses with minimal interruptions (with one or different partners).

Gestation takes 150 days. Most births occur in September-November. The female, as a rule, gives birth once a year, but repeated births are possible if enemies do not pester and there is a lot of food around.

Capybara is released from the burden in Spartan conditions, right on the ground, producing from 2 to 8 toothy, furry and perfectly sighted cubs, each of which pulls 1.5 kg. All the females of the herd take care of the offspring, and the mother feeds the babies with milk for up to 3-4 months, although soon after birth they chew the grass on their own.

Fertility in capybaras occurs at 15-18 months, when they eat up to 30-40 kg.

For those who love guinea pigs and have or have had such an adorable pet at home, capybara, no doubt, you will like it very much, because these animals are very similar in appearance, only the latter is ten times larger and more impressive. It is hard to believe that such a weighty animal is a rodent and not simple, but the largest on the entire globe. An amazing and unusual capybara is the mistress of the water element, without which this animal simply cannot imagine its existence.

Origin of the species and description

If we turn to ancient history, we can say that the genus of capybaras has roots that go back centuries, even millennia. There is evidence that about three million years ago, a huge rodent lived on the South American continent, whose weight reached a ton. This titan had relatives and smaller ones, weighing more than one hundred kilograms.

In those days, South America was isolated from North America, and the fauna of giant rodents felt very at ease. With the advent of the Isthmus of Panama (as a result of various natural disasters), more aggressive animals began to move from the North American continent to the south, oppressing the huge rodents, which gradually disappeared. Fortunately, one relative still managed to adapt and survive, it was and remains capybara, which had a hard time competing with larger herbivores.

The word "capybara" from the language of the Indian tribe Guarani can be translated as "owner of herbs" or "eater of thin grass." Local aborigines called her other names:

• poncho;
• capigua;
• caprincio;
• chiguire.

If we talk about the modern, scientific, official name of this animal, then it sounds like a "water pig". So, capybara (capybara) is a herbivorous mammal leading a semi-aquatic lifestyle, a representative of the capybara family. Scientists have attributed the capybara to porcupine rodents. As a result of various biological studies, it turned out that of all the animals living today, the capybara has the closest family ties with the mountain pig (moko). However, the latter is completely indifferent to water.

Appearance and features

The calm and peaceful appearance of capybaras creates a feeling of their eternal thoughtfulness. Such an interesting expression on the face of a capybara causes a smile. The head of these rodents is quite large, the muzzle is blunt-nosed, even slightly square. The ears are small, rounded, the eyes are also small, widely spaced nostrils resemble a piglet.

One of the features of this rodent are large dimensions and heaviness. The weight of males varies from 54 to 63 kg, and the ladies are even larger - from 62 to 74 kg. There were specimens and more weighty (from 90 kg), but this is rare. In height, capybaras grow from half a meter to 62 cm, in length - more than a meter.

Video: Capybara

The teeth of the capybara are 20 pieces, the most impressive and frightening are the incisors, which have an orange tint. They are seen in the mouth like huge daggers. Other teeth (cheek teeth) continue to grow throughout life, they do not have roots. Multiple tubercles on the animal's tongue make it thicker.

The coat of the water pig is rough and bristly, the hairs grow from 3 to 12 cm in length. The capybara has no undercoat at all, as a result of which the sun's rays can easily burn its skin, so it is often smeared with dirt, like sunscreen.

The color of a capybara can be:

• reddish chestnut;
• brown;
• dark chocolate.

The abdomen is always a lighter shade, with a slight yellowness. Some individuals have dark (almost black) spots on the muzzle. The color of the young is noticeably lighter.

The appearance of a capybara is associated not only with a guinea pig, it also looks like a pot-bellied barrel with four legs. She has four elongated fingers with webbed partitions on her front paws, and three on her hind legs. The claws of the capybara are thick and blunt, similar to hooves. The hind limbs are slightly longer, so sometimes it seems that the animal is sitting down. On the powerful croup of a capybara, the tail is not visible at all. He, of course, is present, but somewhere in the depths of the soul.

Where does the capybara live?

The capybara has a permanent residence, both in Central and South America. She prefers a climate with high humidity. It lives in countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela. It can be found in Peru, and in Bolivia, and in Paraguay, Panama, Uruguay, Guyana. In general, this good-natured animal settled throughout the South American continent.

One of the most important conditions for the habitat of this large-sized rodent is the proximity of any reservoir. The water pig takes a fancy to river and marshy shores, likes to settle near lakes and ponds where hyacinth and leaves grow.

It grazes in meadows, eating guinea grass, and is found in agricultural lands. The capybara lives in the Chaco forests, savannahs, which are flooded during floods. It is also possible to see a water pig in a mountainous area (about 1300 m), near mangrove swamps.

The capybara usually does not move further than a kilometer from the reservoir, because this is not only its native and favorite element, but also a refuge from large land predators. The capybara does not equip a lair, a hole, a lair, it lives and rests right on the ground.

What does a capybara eat?

It is not for nothing that the Indians called the water pigs the lords of the grass, because. they mostly feed on it. They eat vegetation that lives in water and on land. When the rainy season ends, capybaras feast on sedge. They eat capybaras and dried grass, hay. They do not disdain, both the bark of trees and various fruits, they also eat tubers of various plants.

Capybaras adore all kinds of gourds, in search of which they come to cultivated fields. They can be seen on both reed and grain crop lands, but these peaceful animals do not bring much damage. Still, they prefer algae and grass. In dry times, capybaras compete with cattle for pasture.

An interesting fact is that water pigs are coprophages, i.e. they eat their own feces. Nature arranged it this way for a reason, it helps capybaras in digestion.

The fact is that a huge amount of fiber in the grass cannot be digested by these animals. Because of this, the capybara has a special chamber located in the caecum, in which food is fermented.

All fermentation products are not fully digested by animals, but leave the body along with feces, which capybaras then eat, filling the body's need for all the necessary enzymes. Those who kept a guinea pig at home could repeatedly observe this process; in capybaras, it usually occurs in the morning.

Features of character and lifestyle

Without water, capybaras simply cannot imagine their life. In the water they eat, drink, relax, take mud baths, cool off, escape from danger. The lifestyle of these animals is collective. They live in whole families, numbering from 10 to 20 members. Their way of life is very similar to a harem, in which there is a main male sultan, several female concubines with cubs. There are also representatives of the stronger sex in the harem, but they do not contradict their leader, completely obeying him. If the leader feels a competitor in someone, he will drive him out of the family, so some males have to live alone.

Both females and males have special anal glands that exude a special aroma, each of which is individual and unique. For males, he talks about their position in the family. Males also have scent glands on their heads, which they use to mark their territories. Sometimes the possessions of one harem can extend over 200 hectares, but usually they occupy from 1 to 10 hectares. In the rainy season, capybaras disperse over large areas, and in dry times they cluster in the coastal zone of reservoirs. Sometimes you can see more than one hundred capybaras around a lake or river, some of which have traveled hundreds of kilometers looking for water.

Although capybaras are peaceful and very calm animals, fights and skirmishes between males take place. Blame the status and position in the group, for which the males are fighting. Interestingly, fights within the same family never lead to the death of one of the males. If fights occur between males from different groups, then such a deplorable outcome happens often. The most active capybaras become late in the evening and at dusk. In the morning hours, they prefer to relax by the water. In a strong heat, capybaras climb into shallow water, they like to tinker in the slurry. These animals do not equip dwellings, they sleep on the ground. Sleep in capybaras is very sensitive and short, they often wake up at night to have a snack.

Capybaras have a lot of talents: they swim and dive superbly, despite their magnificent forms, do not forget about their membranes between the toes of their paws. In addition, water pigs can jump, running away from ill-wishers with large jumps. And the range of sounds they make is just amazing.

Capybaras cackle funny, whistle, bark, make clicks, squeal, grind their teeth. Each cry has its own symbol, which is very interesting and unusual. If the animals sense danger, they warn others with their bark. Capybaras squeal when they are very alarmed, or something hurts them. In conversation with each other, they click amusingly, and during fights, males gnash their teeth.

If we talk about the character, then he is very phlegmatic in capybaras, you can even say that they are slightly lazy. These animals are very friendly, they make contact with a person without problems, especially if they are treated with something. It is also not difficult to tame a capybara, it can become a devoted and affectionate friend, no worse than a dog. Even in circuses, capybaras perform with success, because. excellent for training. The temperament of these huge rodents is good-natured and meek, completely harmless. In nature, capybaras live from 6 to 10 years, and in captivity - from 10 to 12.

Social structure and reproduction

As already mentioned, capybaras are herd animals, collective, they do not like loneliness and live in large families with a clear hierarchy. There is no specific mating season for capybaras; they breed all year round, but are especially active with the arrival of the rainy season. Cavaliers lure ladies by placing their fragrant marks on nearby plants. Males usually fertilize females right in the water. Capybaras are polygamous animals, one female can have several sexual partners at one period.

Bearing cubs lasts about 150 days. Usually childbirth occurs once a year, sometimes this process can occur twice a year.

Little piglets are born right on the ground, mother does not make any nest. Usually there are from 2 to 8 pieces. Cubs look the same as adults: they are covered with hair (a little lighter than in mature individuals), sighted and toothy, only much smaller, they weigh about one and a half kilograms each.

Capybara mom treats her offspring with milk for about three to four months, although they know how to chew grass almost immediately after birth. All females living in the flock look after and take care of the offspring. Capybaras become mature and capable of reproduction by 18 months, then their weight reaches 30 or 40 kg.

People also exterminate capybaras by eating their meat, which tastes like pork. Haberdashery products are made from the skin of capybaras, all kinds of jewelry are made from large incisors. Even such a ridiculous and absurd fact is known, when three centuries ago, Catholic clergy recognized this rodent as a fish and allowed them to eat capybara meat during fasting. Today in Latin America there are entire capybara farms. Their meat and subcutaneous fat are used in pharmaceuticals for the production of medicines. The value of capybara fat is comparable to badger.

Population and species status

In our modern time, the capybara population is not threatened by anything; these most interesting rodents are not under special protection. The number of capybaras is stable, there were no sharp jumps in the direction of decline. Even human activity does not particularly interfere with these animals. Agricultural land and the arrangement of pastures for livestock, on the contrary, are beneficial for capybaras. They find food and water on them during the dry season. There is a tendency that the number of animals in such improved agricultural areas is greater than in the wild.

However, the capybara did not always have such a free position. There were times when capybaras were destroyed in huge quantities in Colombia, and since 1980 the government has banned the hunting of these animals. Because of the delicious meat, the Venezuelans exhausted a lot of capybaras, only in 1953 the government began to control the capture of large rodents, although this did not bring much success, people continued to ruthlessly hunt capybaras. In 1968, zoologists developed an action plan to study the biological characteristics of these animals and their conservation. All these procedures brought the population to a stable state.

Currently, capybaras are on the IUCN list of animals that are not threatened with extinction from the face of the planet.

capybara- the only rodent with such an impressive size. Despite its large size, this animal is very meek, good-natured, sociable and affectionate. Capybaras, tamed by man, become his truest and most loyal friends. Looking at these animals, it is impossible not to smile, because their unflappable and funny look incredibly uplifting.

Etymology

The name of the animal originates from the word ka"apiaara, which in the dead Tupi language (a relative language of the Guarani Indians) literally means "eater of thin grass" ( kaa(grass) + pii(thin) + ú (have) + ara(suffix similar to the Russian suffix -tel)) . In the closest form to the original capivara it entered the Portuguese language and is widely used in Brazil. Already in shape capibara through Spanish, the word entered English, Russian, Japanese and a number of other languages. In the Spanish-speaking countries of Latin America, other names derived from the languages ​​of local Indians are also in use: carpincho(Argentina, Peru, etc.), chiguiro(Venezuela, Colombia), jochi(Bolivia), ñeque(Columbia), etc.

Scientific name (both generic and specific epithets) Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris translated as "water pig" (other Greek. ὕδωρ - water + χοῖρος - pig), tracing paper from which served as the basis for both the alternative Russian name for this animal - capybara, and its names in Chinese (水豚), Hungarian ( Vizidiszno), Icelandic ( Flóðsvin) and some other languages, as well as variants used in Argentina ( chancho de agua and puerco de agua).

Appearance

The body length of an adult capybara reaches 1-1.35 m, the height at the withers is 50-60 cm. Males weigh 34-63 kg, and females 36-65.5 kg (measurements were made in Venezuelan llanos). Females are usually larger than males.

Body is heavy. Outwardly, the capybara resembles a giant large-headed guinea pig. The head is large, massive with a wide, blunt muzzle. The upper lip is thick. Ears are short and rounded. The nostrils are widely spaced. The eyes are small, set high on the head and set somewhat back. The tail is rudimentary. The limbs are rather short; front - 4-fingered (there were six fingers) [ clarify], rear - 3-fingered. The fingers are connected by small swimming membranes and are equipped with short strong claws. The body is covered with long (30-120 mm) and coarse hair; undercoat is absent. The color of the upper side of the body is from reddish-brown to grayish, the ventral side, as a rule, is yellowish-brown. Juveniles are lighter colored. Mature males have a patch of skin with numerous large sebaceous glands on the upper part of the muzzle. Females have 6 pairs of abdominal nipples.

The skull is massive, with wide and strong zygomatic arches. Teeth 20. Cheek teeth without roots, grow throughout the life of the animal. The incisors are wide, have a longitudinal groove on the outer surface. The small and large tibia are partially fused together. There is no collarbone. There are 66 chromosomes in the diploid set.

Recorded in the following countries: Argentina , Bolivia , Brazil , Venezuela , Guyana , Colombia , Paraguay , Peru , Uruguay , French Guiana . The distribution area includes the Orinoco, Amazon and La Plata river basins. The main factors limiting the spread are air and water temperature. In the mountains, capybaras are found up to an altitude of 1300 m above sea level.

Lifestyle and nutrition

Leads a semi-aquatic lifestyle; rarely more than 500-1000 m away from water. Its distribution is associated with seasonal fluctuations in the water level - during the rainy season, capybaras disperse throughout the territory, in the dry season they accumulate along the banks of large rivers and other permanent reservoirs and often travel long distances in search of water and food.

These rodents are usually active during the day, but if they are often disturbed by people and predators, they switch to a nocturnal lifestyle.

population status

The capybara is not a protected species. Agricultural development of land and the creation of grazing lands often benefit capybaras, providing them with food and water during droughts. As a consequence, the number of capybaras in the pasture area may be higher than in undeveloped areas. The highest population density is estimated at 2-3.5 individuals/ha.

Currently, semi-wild capybaras are bred on special farms (Venezuela) for meat and leather products; are also used as a source of fat for pharmaceutical purposes. Capybara meat tastes and looks like

Large, about seventy kilograms of weight, capybaras live not only in nature, but also in private houses and even in ordinary apartments, and walk them on a very ordinary leash. These rodents are extremely clean, unusually gentle and sociable - and they love to put their muzzles on their owners' knees so that they can stroke it and pat it behind the ear.

The most famous capybara in the world is Caplin Rose (his name is an abbreviation meaning Rodent Of Unusual Size - Incredible Size Rodent), who lives in Texas. The animal got into the Tipaldos family at an extremely tender age - when it was found, it was only about 11 days old, it slept on a pillow near the owner's daughter - Melanie, and woke her up with a gentle grunt.

When the capybara was small, this was not a particular problem, but when it grew up, it began to fit right on the head of its mistress, which began to create some problems.

Most of all (except for the owners, of course) Caplin loves to swim - at the same time, he just won’t get into the bath, first he will make sure that the water temperature suits him. If it considers it suitable, it will climb into the water, lie on its side and begin to clean its claws, doing a kind of manicure. The animal also loves to eat - from all food, it especially highlights fruits and ice cream. After bathing and having dinner, Kathleen goes to rest on her favorite sofa.

Description of the animal

Capybara ("Master of Grass") is considered the only representative of the capybara family. This animal is semi-aquatic, herbivorous and is the largest representative of the rodent order. In ancient times, as paleontological finds have shown, grizzly-sized capybaras lived on our planet.

In order not to disappear from the face of the earth, as did the larger relatives, the capybara, in the struggle for a place under the Sun and for plant food, had to acquire some similarity with larger herbivores, both in appearance and in habits. For example, despite the fact that their legs are not as long and fast as those of the same antelopes, they also do not resemble the small legs of rodents.

And even though they move on land with a shuffling gait, if necessary, they can run fast, suddenly jump and live in the open, absolutely not bothering to dig holes.

Outwardly, this rodent is very similar to a guinea pig, only with a very large head. The coat is hard, from 30 to 120 mm long, red-brown or grayish in color (and only on the stomach it is lighter and acquires a yellowish-brown tint). The rodent has a heavy, well-knit, barrel-shaped physique, while the fibula and tibia are partially fused, and the clavicle is absent. The tail is small and almost invisible.

But most noteworthy are the sizes of the capybara, which are atypical for the order of rodents, since they are at least twice the parameters of the porcupine and beaver:

• The length of the rodent is a little more than one meter;
• The height at the withers is about one and a half meters;
• The weight of males is about sixty-three kilograms;
• Females are slightly larger, their weight exceeds 65 kg.

The capybara has a large head with a short, almost square muzzle and wide zygomatic arches. The ears are small, rounded, the nostrils are widely spaced. Since the eyes, ears and nostrils of the animal are high, they make it possible for him to feel extremely comfortable in the water. Males that have reached puberty have a patch of skin on the muzzle with a huge number of odorous glands. The capybara has twenty teeth, while the buccal roots are absent and grow until the death of the rodent.

The front legs of this rodent are somewhat shorter than the hind legs, which gives the impression that he always wants to sit down. Capybaras have four toes on their forelimbs and three on their hind limbs. All fingers have short strong and blunt claws, somewhat reminiscent of small hooves. Between the fingers there are membranes that allow the capybara to feel good, both on land and in water.

Habitat

The capybara lives only in South America, and only in regions with a humid climate. Among the reasons that limit the distribution of this animal to the rest of the territory is both the temperature of the water (in this case, these animals are quite fastidious) and the air. They do not live permanently in any particular place - during the rainy season they disperse over a wide area, and gather in herds near large bodies of water when the drought begins.

Regardless of the season, the capybara lives near rivers, lakes and even swamps. Sometimes they can be seen in the mountains at an altitude of about one kilometer. Since the life of this animal is extremely closely connected with water, it rarely moves more than one kilometer from the water.

Reservoirs save capybaras from cougars, jaguars and other predators. Of course, dangers also await them in the rivers (for example, an alligator), but here they are not as helpless and phlegmatic as on earth. The capybara swims extremely fast, and can dive deep and for a long time.

In water, it is able to behave very quietly and imperceptibly - nostrils and eyes are barely visible above the surface, while hiding behind algae, snags or other floating objects. It is in the water that the capybara likes to stay during the heat, putting out only its head, or goes to sleep in the thickets near the reservoir.

This connection of the animal with water three centuries ago led to a ridiculous situation when the Catholic Church decided to suddenly consider rodents to be fish, as a result of which their meat was allowed to be consumed during the fasting period.

Food

Capybara, living in natural conditions and not familiar with the benefits of civilization, prefers to eat plants growing in water - they contain an extremely small amount of mechanical tissues, and therefore are easier to digest by rodents. Although the capybara does not disdain cereals, wild cereals, gourds, sugar cane, it also eats tree bark. These animals often eat their own droppings so that low-nutrient food is easier to digest.

Lifestyle

Despite the fact that capybaras are active mainly in the morning and evening (when it is not so hot), if they are constantly disturbed by people or predators, capybaras will switch to night mode without any problems.

By their nature, capybaras are extremely phlegmatic, one might even say lazy. When zoologists once tried to find the lair of these animals, they could not find it for a long time. And all because they simply do not have any dwelling - the capybara sleeps on the ground. The maximum that she agrees to is to loosen the soil under her and make a shallow hole.

Capybaras live in flocks - from ten to twenty individuals, although during the heat, more than a hundred rodents can often gather near one reservoir. In this case, conflicts between permanent residents and newcomers are not uncommon.

But even in this case, each herd is responsible for its own territory, the boundaries of which the capybaras mark with special odorous glands located on their heads. The total area of ​​land that the flock marks is about 10 hectares, however, animals spend almost all their time on a plot not exceeding one hectare.

And capybaras need to communicate with each other, because among the males in the herd there is an extremely strict hierarchy. In general, the psychological atmosphere among rodents is quite good and weaker individuals unconditionally listen to the leader, who constantly proves to the rest who is “the strongest here”, which often leads to conflicts and fights.

His competitors tolerate such behavior of the leader, because they cannot find a couple outside the herd. About ten percent of capybaras do not stand up (or are expelled by the leader), leave the herd and live alone.

reproduction

Capybara reach sexual maturity at the age of 15 to 18 months. Despite the fact that the female gives birth mainly once a year, under certain conditions she is quite capable of giving birth again during the year. Capybaras are capable of breeding regardless of the season, but they become especially active during the rainy season. They mate in the water.

The male leader tries to get along with all the females (however, he does not always succeed, especially if the herd is too large). At the same time, the female does not refuse anyone.

Pregnancy in a capybara lasts about 150 days, she gives birth to the earth, she does not make any den for this, she does not look for shelter. Usually has from two to eight babies, the weight of each cub is about one and a half kilograms. Small capybaras are born, covered with wool, with open eyes, small teeth, and at the same time are able to follow their mother almost immediately and even eat grass.

The cub feeds on milk for up to three months, while not only the mother feeds it, but also other females who gave birth to babies at that time, since capybaras do not divide newborns into their own and others. Little capybaras are raised, guarded and protected from danger by all the females of the herd.

Enemies

Capybaras have many enemies. Birds of prey vulture urubu prey on babies, wild dogs, crocodiles, jaguars, snakes, and, of course, people attack adults.

Capybaras successfully hide from land enemies under water, from waterfowl they quickly flee, fortunately, in the water element they become quite mobile. But the relationship with a man in capybaras was not easy.

Relationship with a person

Man has always hunted the largest rodents in the world - at first only because of the rather tasty, somewhat reminiscent of pork, meat. Then, when agriculture began to actively develop in South America, farmers began to exterminate them, accusing them of destroying crops.

And only at the end of the 20th century, farmers were convinced that there was no particular damage from capybaras, since they live mainly in swamps and in shallow water. When they graze near domestic animals (since this usually happens near bodies of water), they still prefer to feed on aquatic plants.

When capybaras were justified, it turned out that their number in some regions had decreased so much that hunting for these rodents had to be banned. The increase in their population was influenced by a paradoxical fact - the demand for "non-traditional" varieties of meat, therefore, capybara meat also turned out to be popular.

In the eighties of the last century, the first farms exclusively engaged in the breeding of these rodents appeared.

It became an unexpectedly profitable business. First, useless swamps have turned into productive pastures. Secondly, the herds multiply extremely quickly, since the capybara is able not only to give birth often, but also to give a large offspring, which grows extremely quickly.

It turned out that only a pig has such fertility and growth rate, but it is much harder to care for it. As for the capybara, it lives in the "pastures", unaware that it has been domesticated, almost never sees people and takes care of itself. Shepherds get the opportunity to count them and separate the required number of animals from the herd only during a drought, when rodents gather near their permanent reservoirs.

Today, capybara farms are extremely profitable, as one hectare of meat produces four times more than cattle grazing.

Some keep them as a pet - capybaras, due to their complaisant nature, are extremely trusting, very easily tamed, and exist peacefully next to other pets. They lend themselves well to training, and the most capable even perform in the circus.