Facts About Capybaras
Published October 3, 2026 · FactsSeeker
Capybaras are rodents of the Americas whose routines revolve around water, grazing, and group living. The supplied San Diego Zoo source describes how their bodies, diet, social behavior, young, predators, and conservation status fit that wetland lifestyle.
Capybaras are rodents, not pigs
The source notes that capybaras were once thought to be a kind of pig, but identifies them as rodents. It says they are closely related to cavies and guinea pigs. The taxonomy section also places the capybara and lesser capybara in the genus Hydrochoeris. [1]
They are described as the largest rodent in the world
The source calls the capybara the largest rodent in the world. It describes a somewhat barrel-shaped body with long, light brown, shaggy hair, a beaver-like face, no tail, and slightly webbed feet. Those features help distinguish the animal without treating it as a pig or a beaver. [1]
The source gives specific adult size ranges
The size section gives length as 3.2 to 4.2 feet (100 to 130 centimeters), shoulder height as 1.6 feet (50 centimeters), and weight as 60 to 174 pounds (27 to 79 kilograms), depending upon sex. These values give a clearer sense of scale than appearance alone. They also show why the animal’s body size stands out among rodents. [1]
Their natural range is closely tied to water
Capybaras are reported from Central and South America, especially east of the Andes. The source places them on riverbanks, beside ponds, in marshes, and wherever standing water is available. It also describes them roaming swampy, grassy regions near rivers, ponds, streams, and lakes. [1]
A swimming hole is part of their lifestyle
The source says a capybara’s dry skin makes a swimming hole part of its lifestyle. Water also supports two other needs: it provides water plants and grasses to eat, and it offers a way to escape danger. Their habitat needs therefore combine feeding areas with reliable water access. [1]
They can hide underwater for several minutes
The source states that a capybara can stay underwater for up to five minutes while hiding from predators. This is presented as an escape behavior, not just a swimming ability. It fits with the animal’s broader dependence on water for safety. [1]
Their feet work for swimming and walking
Capybaras have slightly webbed feet. The source says those feet have four toes on each front foot and three on each back foot. It also says the same feet are used to swim as well as walk, matching their movement between land and water. [1]
Their eyes, ears, and nostrils sit high on the head
The source compares capybaras with hippos because the eyes, ears, and nostrils are all near the top of the head. A capybara can raise just those parts above the water while the rest of the body remains hidden. This lets the animal check its surroundings from a concealed position. [1]
Mud and shallow water help them cool down
Capybaras are described as wallowing in shallow water and mud during hot days. Afterward, they may move out in the evening to graze. The source also says they tend to eat around dawn and dusk, but may wait for night if they feel threatened. [1]
Their front teeth keep growing
As rodents, capybaras share a well-known trait with animals such as mice, squirrels, and porcupines: ever-growing front teeth. The source says capybaras use long, sharp teeth to graze on grass and water plants. This links their rodent anatomy directly with the way they feed. [1]
Adults can eat a large daily amount of grass
The source states that an adult capybara can eat 6 to 8 pounds (2.7 to 3.6 kilograms) of grass per day. That intake fits a diet centered on grasses and aquatic vegetation. It also helps explain why the animal spends so much time grazing near wet places. [1]
Their dry-season diet includes other plant foods
When fresh grasses and water plants dry up during the dry season, the source says capybaras eat reeds, grains, melons, and squashes. This does not change the plant-based nature of the diet. It shows that the foods listed by the source vary with seasonal conditions. [1]
They use unusual methods to process tough plants
The source says capybaras eat their own feces to obtain beneficial bacteria that help the stomach break down thick fiber. It also says they regurgitate food and chew it again, even though rodents are not closely related to ruminants. Their side-to-side chewing is described as a useful way to handle tough plant material. [1]
Wild groups include males, females, and young
Capybaras usually live in small groups of about 10 individuals. The source describes a typical group as including a dominant male, one or more females, one or more subordinate males, and several young. During the wet season, as many as 40 capybaras may be found together. [1]
Young capybaras face many predators
The source says group watchfulness is useful because youngsters can fall victim to caimans, ocelots, harpy eagles, and anacondas. For adults, it names the jaguar as the main natural predator. It also notes that humans hunt capybaras. [1]
Reproduction includes a several-month gestation
The source lists gestation as 5 to 6 months. It gives the number of pups as up to 8, usually 5 on average, and birth weight as 2 to 3 pounds (1 to 1.5 kilograms). The source lists maturity at about 15 months old. [1]
Lifespan differs between expert care and the wilderness
The source’s life-span section gives up to 12 years in expert care and up to 10 years in the wilderness. Those figures should not be combined into one general lifespan statement, because the source separates the two settings. The distinction matters when comparing managed care with wild conditions. [1]
They are not currently classified as endangered in the source
The source says the capybara is not currently classified as endangered. At the same time, it identifies threats from deforestation, habitat destruction, and illegal poaching. It also says the animal had trouble not too long ago because of hunting, and that some people in its natural range have used it as food for centuries. [1]
Sources & further reading
The supplied source discusses capybaras broadly and also lists the lesser capybara in the same genus. Conservation wording should be read carefully: it says capybaras are not currently classified as endangered while also describing threats and past hunting pressure.
Sources checked 2026-10-02. Our approach to facts · Suggest a correction