Field guide · common
Capybara
The world's largest rodent — a gentle capybara that grazes riverbanks and lets birds perch on its back.
Least Concern
Overview
The capybara is a South American icon: dog-sized, barrel-bodied, and surprisingly serene. They live in groups along rivers, lakes, and marshes, grazing on grasses and aquatic plants, and diving to escape jaguars and caimans when alarmed.
Capybaras are highly social and often seen with cattle egrets and other birds picking ticks from their fur. Their partially webbed feet make them strong swimmers — they can stay submerged for several minutes with just nostrils above water.
Habitat
Freshwater wetlands, riverbanks, and seasonally flooded grassland across Brazil, Venezuela, and much of South America east of the Andes suit capybaras. The Pantanal is one of the best places to see them in large groups.
Countries found
Interesting facts
- 01
Capybaras are the world's largest rodents — and surprisingly good swimmers.
- 02
They are so chill that other animals often sit on them.
- 03
Groups can number 20 or more, especially during the dry season.
Conservation status
Capybaras are Least Concern and abundant across much of South America. They are hunted for meat and leather in some regions but populations remain stable in the Pantanal and Amazon basin.
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Where it lives
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