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The capybara is the world's largest rodent and lives in groups of up to 100

the gist

The capybara is the largest living rodent, weighing many kilograms and native to nearly every country in South America except Chile. It is a semiaquatic herbivore that eats grasses and water plants. It lives near rivers, lakes and marshes, and its feet are partly webbed for swimming. Capybaras are highly social and usually live in groups of 10 to 20, although groups of up to 100 have been recorded. Their close relatives include guinea pigs and rock cavies.

so what

Capybaras are a clear example of how a large grazing animal can thrive in wetlands and savannas of South America. Their group living and dependence on water make them good indicators of wetland health. Their meat and hide are also hunted in parts of their range.

fun fact

Capybaras have partly webbed feet, which helps them swim.

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Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Image: Wikimedia Commons