Capybara Facts, the Friendliest Rodent in the World
- freepik
VIVA – The world is filled with amazing animals. One of them is Capybara. Capybara is a type of rodent that’s easily found in South and Central America. In fact, Capybara is known as a friendly animal and easy to get along with other species of animals.
Capybara has the scientific name Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris. Capybara also has a very cute shape, similar to a guinea pig, but with a large size. Capybara is more active during the day than at night. Meanwhile, most rodents are usually active at night.
Capybara is one of the rodents that can grow big. This animal has a body length from 1 to 1.35 meters, while its height can reach up to 50 centimeters.
The female capybara is larger where it can weigh up to 66 kilograms compared to the male which weighs almost 65 kilograms.
Generally, Capybara can reach the age of 8 to 10 years. However, most that live in the wild can only survive up to 4 years.
Capybara, including semi-aquatic animals, can spend their "daily" in water or on land, moreover Capybara is good at swimming.
These cute animals are herbivores, and usually eat grass and water plants. Capybara also consumes red fruit and vegetables.
However, there are funny and strange things about Capybara. It turns out, they also eat their own feces.Â
Feces of Capybara are considered to be rich in protein that comes from the microbes that digest their food the previous day. The grass that the Capybara eats is difficult to digest, so eating feces is considered a second way of digesting.
Also, Capybara can get along with other animals. Recently, there are some portraits of Capybara is seen relaxing with chickens, cats, turtles, and even crocodiles.
Although there is no scientific explanation for why Capybara is so calm and relaxed, but as quoted from National Geographic US, Capybaras can look calm because actually Capybaras are always aware of their surroundings and always careful.