Capybara
The capybara ("Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris") is a mammal native to South America. It is the largest living rodent in the world. Also called chigüire, chigüiro (in Colombia and Venezuela) and carpincho, it is a member of the genus "Hydrochoerus", of which the only other extant member is the lesser capybara ("Hydrochoerus isthmius"). Its close relatives include guinea pigs and rock cavies, and it is more distantly related to the agouti, the chinchilla, and the coypu. The capybara inhabits savannas and dense forests and lives near bodies of water. It is a highly social species and can be found in groups as large as 100 individuals, but usually lives in groups of 10–20 individuals. The capybara is not a threatened species but it is hunted for its meat and hide and also for grease from its thick fatty skin, which is used in the pharmaceutical trade.
Serras de Sudeste
Grazing mammals of the hill range include the Pampas deer ("Ozotoceros bezoarticus"), the gray brocket or guazuvirá deer ("Mazama gouazoubira"), the capybara ("Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris"), the world's largest living rodent, the Molina's hog-nosed skunk and the Pampas fox ("Lycalopex gymnocercus"), and birds include the greater rhea ("Rhea americana") and the red-winged tinamou ("Rhynchotus rufescens"). Jaguars, cougars and ocelots do not exist anymore in this area.