Lesser Capybara
Hydrochoerus isthmius
Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassMammalia (Mammals)
- OrderRodentia (Rodents)
- FamilyCaviidae (Cavies)
- GenusHydrochoerus (Capybaras)
- SpeciesHydrochoerus isthmius (Lesser Capybara)
About the Lesser Capybara
The lesser capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius) is a large semi-aquatic rodent found in South America that has vast similarities with, yet subtle differences from, the slightly larger common capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), the largest species of rodent in the world.
The lesser capybara mainly inhabits areas close to water such as marshes, ponds, and lagoon habitats as these places offer water, which is essential for these capybaras to fulfil their niches' of maintain body temperature homeostasis, provide suitable food, hide from predators, and mate. They were first observed in Pacific river valleys in Panama as early as 1912 as a subspecies of the common capybara. However, after thorough studies on the anatomy and genealogy of them, the lesser capybara was classified as its own species some time in the 1980s. Currently, this species has expanded its range to parts of Eastern Panama and Western Colombia and Venezuela, just west of the Andes Mountains. The lesser capybara constitutes the northernmost population of any extant capybara species, other than the now extinct H. hesperotiganites from Pleistocene California.
Lesser capybaras are herbivores that mainly... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Lesser Capybara in Soberanía National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Soberanía National Park
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Soberanía National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 2 | Tayrona National Natural Park | 🇨🇴 Colombia | |
| 3 | Parque Natural Metropolitano | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 4 | Chagres National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama | |
| 5 | Darién National Park | 🇵🇦 Panama |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Lesser Capybara in Soberanía National Park?
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Lesser Capybara sighting in Soberanía National Park, based on 98 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Lesser Capybara in Soberanía National Park?
December has the highest sighting rate for Lesser Capybara in Soberanía National Park in our monthly data.