Capybara

The capybara or greater capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest living rodent, native to <a href="/facts/South_America/PhrFEMk7">South America</a>. It is a member of the genus <a href="/facts/Hydrochoerus/M7Umn24s">Hydrochoerus</a>. The only other <a href="/facts/Extant_taxon/YK8uj7qU">extant</a> member is the <a href="/facts/Lesser_capybara/S5NKBwJk">lesser capybara</a> (Hydrochoerus isthmius). Its close relatives include <a href="/facts/Cavia/YqbENUYd">guinea pigs</a> and <a href="/facts/Kerodon/GuRqLWxv">rock cavies</a>, and it is more distantly related to the <a href="/facts/Agouti/cx5EDEja">agouti</a>, the <a href="/facts/Chinchilla/TASYVC7w">chinchilla</a>, and the <a href="/facts/Nutria/sW5K6qAe">nutria</a>. The capybara inhabits savannas and dense forests, and lives near bodies of water. It is a highly social species and can be found in groups as large as 100 individuals, but usually live in groups of 10–20 individuals. The capybara is hunted for its meat and hide and also for grease from its thick fatty skin.

Capybara open-in-new

Capybara