Capybara
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilyCaviidae (Cavies)
- GenusHydrochoerus (Capybaras)
- SpeciesHydrochoerus hydrochaeris (Capybara)
About the Capybara
The capybara (/kæp.ɪˈbɑːr.ə, -băr′ə/ kap-uh-BAR-uh) or greater capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest living rodent, native to all countries in South America except Chile. It is a semiaquatic herbivore that inhabits savannas and dense forests, living near and in bodies of freshwater and feeding mainly on grasses and aquatic plants.
Together with the lesser capybara, it constitutes the genus Hydrochoerus. Its other close relatives include guinea pigs and rock cavies, and it is more distantly related to the agouti, the chinchilla, and the nutria. The capybara is a highly social species that usually lives in groups of 10–20 individuals, but can be found in groups as large as 100. It is hunted for its meat and hide and for grease from its thick fatty skin.
Its common name is derived from Tupi ka'apiûara, a complex agglutination of kaá (leaf) + píi (slender) + ú (eat) + ara (a suffix for agent nouns), meaning "one who eats slender leaves", or "grass-eater". The genus name, hydrochoerus, comes from Greek ὕδωρ (hýdor "water") and χοῖρος (choíros "pig, hog") and the species name, hydrochaeris, comes from Greek ὕδωρ (hýdor "water") and χαίρω (chairo "feel happy... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Capybara in Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Palmar National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 2 | Iberá National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 3 | Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 4 | Tambopata National Reserve | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 5 | El Impenetrable National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 6 | Tijuca National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 7 | Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 8 | Manu National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru | |
| 9 | Yasuní National Park | 🇪🇨 Ecuador | |
| 10 | Madidi National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | |
| 11 | Amacayacu National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 12 | Iguaçu National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 13 | Iguazú National Park | 🇦🇷 Argentina | |
| 14 | Noel Kempff Mercado National Park | 🇧🇴 Bolivia | |
| 15 | Sierra de la Macarena National Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 16 | Emas National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 17 | Serra dos Órgãos National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 18 | Serra da Canastra National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 19 | Chingaza National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 20 | Itatiaia National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 21 | Chapada Diamantina National Park | 🇧🇷 Brazil | |
| 22 | Cordillera Azul National Park | 🇵🇪 Peru |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Capybara in Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas?
About 60% of wildlife watchers report a Capybara sighting in Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas, based on 155 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Capybara in Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas?
March has the highest sighting rate for Capybara in Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas in our monthly data.