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Capybara
Capybaras occur in South America east of the Andes, from the
northern edge of the continent down to as far south as the northern
part of Argentina. The capybara lives among the dense vegetation
surrounding lakes, rivers, swamps, marshes, and ponds. It may use
the water for shelter from danger, but it rests on dry ground. It
moves from the water's edge to open grassy areas to graze
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Capybara
.The capybara is the largest rodent in the world. Capybara may weigh
over 100 lbs; the largest on record was over 150 lbs. Head and body
length is 100 to 130 cm, and shoulder height is up to 50 cm. Females
are larger than males. Capybaras have no tail, and their fur is long
and coarse. They are reddish brown to greyish and are usually
yellowish brown on the underside. The limbs are short, the ears are
short and rounded, and the muzzle is heavy. The digits are webbed
and have strong claws. The male has an enlarged scent gland on the
top of the snout.
Reproduction
Capybaras can breed throughout the year, but they do so most
frequently at the onset of the rainy season. Gestation requires 150
days, and generally a female has only one litter per year. Litter
average four young, which are born out in the open rather than in a
nest or other cover. Newborns weigh about 1.5 kg and are precocial
-- their eyes are open, they are fully furred and have complete
dentition, and they can follow their mother and eat grass shortly
after birth. In adition to eating grass, they nurse until the age of
about 4 months. Sexual maturity is reached at 15 months, and maximum
life expectancy is about 10 years (in the wild).
Behavior
Capybaras are social, living in groups of about 20 animals. These
units consist of a dominant male, several adult females (among whom
there is also a dominance hierarchy), their offspring, and
subordinate males at the periphery of the group. Males who do not
have their own family group may live solitarily. Group sizes tend to
be larger in more arid areas, and during drought several hundred
individuals may aggregate around the remaining water holes.
Capybaras communicate with soft whimpers or clicking noises. They
are most active in the morning and evening. During the hottest part
of the day they wallow in shaded wet areas. If startled or pursued
on land a capybara will run like a horse and will seek shelter in
water if possible. Semiaquatic, they are excellent swimmers. They
can swim either with their eyes, ears, and nostrils just above the
surface of the water (due to the shape of their head), or they can
swim while totally submerged. They also may take cover by hiding
among aquatic vegetation with only their nostrils above water.
Food Habits
These giant rodents are grazing herbivores. They selectively choose
forage plants with high protein content, and they use their incisors
to clip the grasses off at ground level. They enhance their nutrient
intake from food by increasing the efficiency of their digestion,
which involves extensive mastication and hindgut fermentation. In
captivity they should be offered a complete diet of rodent lab blocks, and rat or mouse
mix, with bits of fruit or veggies regularly. Cheerios or wheat
bread are great treats, in small quantities. Do NOT feed chocolate,
fried foods, salted foods, candy or junk food! They may enjoy
crickets and mealworms if they are captive bred, never feed wild
insects as they may carry parasites. Vitamins, like Nutri-Cal are a good addition to their diet, and added calcium
during nursing and growth due to demands on their systems at those
times, but take care not to overdo it. Water bottles should be used
to proved constant, clean water. Ceramic or stoneware food dishes
work well for keeping seeds or fresh foods off the floor, and a wire
mesh hopper that allows them to eat the lab blocks through without
extra waste.
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Pet Rats, Mice, Gerbils, Jirds, Voles,
Lemmings and other Rodents
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