Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
HYDROCHAERIDAE - CAPYBARA
A single aquatic species, the world´s largest rodent. Vestigial tail and short, rounded ears give impression of a giant guinea-pig. Nose and eyes located high on the head, allowing the animal to submerge most of the body whilst swimming. Upper lip with vertical cleft. Molars consist of transverse lamellae joined with cementum, the third molar being the longest. Forefeet with four digits semi-webbed, the hindfeet smaller with only three digits. Males possess a bare glandular patch on the upper side of the snout and anal glands for territorial marking. Genitals are covered by an anal flap.
Skull: Massive, square. Long, thin para-occipital processes.
REFERENCES
Diaz MM & Barquez RM 2002 - Los Mamíferos de Jujuy, Argentina - LOLA
Emmons LH & Feer F 1999 - Mamíferos de los Bosques Húmedos de América Tropical - FAN Bolivia
Redford K 1992 - Mammals of the Neotropics Vol 2: The Southern Cone Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay - University of Chicago Press.
