Capybara
CapybaraCapybaraCapybaraCapybara

Capybara

Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Silhouette: Steven Traver · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Tijuca National Park
59 Verified sightings at Tijuca National Park From 2019 to 2026
1,500 Verified sightings across all 22 parks From 2019 to 2026
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

Closest Relatives at Tijuca National Park

Paraguaian Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

Paraguaian Hairy Dwarf Porcupine

🌅 Crepuscular Mammal

Sphiggurus spinosus

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Crested Agouti
LC

Crested Agouti

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Dasyprocta leporina

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Spotted Paca
LC

Spotted Paca

🌙 Nocturnal Mammal

Cuniculus paca

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

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
~90%
2 Iberá National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~80%
3 Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas 🇧🇷 Brazil
~60%
4 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
~50%
5 El Impenetrable National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~40%
6 Tijuca National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~30%
7 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~30%
8 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
~30%
9 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~30%
10 Madidi National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
~20%
11 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
~20%
12 Iguaçu National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~20%
13 Iguazú National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~20%
14 Noel Kempff Mercado National Park 🇧🇴 Bolivia
Insufficient data
15 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
16 Emas National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
17 Serra dos Órgãos National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
18 Serra da Canastra National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
19 Chingaza National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
Insufficient data
20 Itatiaia National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
21 Chapada Diamantina National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
Insufficient data
22 Cordillera Azul National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Capybara in Tijuca National Park?

About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Capybara sighting in Tijuca National Park, based on 59 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Capybara in Tijuca National Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for Capybara in Tijuca National Park in our monthly data.

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