Fact File: Capybara

Find out some fun facts about capybaras with Steve and Aneeshwar. You can learn how they got their name, why they have big front teeth and how they swim!

Capybara is pronouned like:

ka·puh·baa·ruh

Capybaras are rodents - like rats, mice and guinea pigs, you wouldn't be wrong in thinking capybaras look like giant guinea pigs because they are closely related.

Capybaras are found throughout parts of northern and central South America. 

Capybara have great, big, oversized front teeth to cut through grass and bark. Their teeth never stop growing, so to keep their teeth at a reasonable length, capybaras must wear them down by grinding and chewing.

Capybaras are the largest living rodent in the world, they can grow up to four feet long and two feet up to their shoulders and weigh between 30 to 65 kilograms. 

Capybaras love to be in the water and are superb swimmers. They are semi-aquatic which means they live partly on land and partly in water.

Capybaras have skin between their toes called 'webbing' like frogs and ducks do, this helps them to push through the water and swim faster. The capybaras eyes and nose are on top of their head so that whilst they are swimming they can breathe and look around.

Capybaras live in small family groups of around 10. 

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