Length appx. 4 feet, height about 21 inches, weight 110-150 lbs.
The capybara has a massive body set on short legs, and an oblong
head extending from a short neck. This is the world’s largest
rodent. Despite the great contrast in size, the capybara’s
closest relative is the guinea pig. Male and female look alike,
in coats of long, coarse reddish-brown, gray, or yellowish-brown
hair. They have no tail. Water-loving, water-dwelling creatures,
their scientific name means “water pigs”. They walk in
digitigrade fashion (on their toes), and have 4 toes on the
front feet and three on the hind feet, connected by short webbed
membranes.The capybara’s response to danger is to run to water,
where they display good swimming and diving abilities. Their
predators on land are jaguars and cougars. In the water caimans
are a threat. They are social animals, living in herds of 50 to
100.