The name capybara means water pig. But actually, they are rodents, not pigs, and are related to mice, rats, hamsters and beavers. They are the largest rodents in the world.

Capybaras are very social animals and live in large groups, called herds, of up to 20. In the dry season, you may see up to 100 all together at a water source.

Capybara are not endangered. There are about 500 thousand (500,000) of them in the wild. Predators include jaguars and people, who hunt them for their fur and meat. Young capybaras are hunted by eagles, ocelots (a small, wild cat), caimans (small alligators) and anacondas (very large snakes).

rodents - animals such as mice, rats, hamsters

Capybaras have pig-shaped bodies with short, block-shaped heads. They are the largest rodents on Earth, far bigger than a mouse or even a beaver! They can grow to be up to 100 pounds (45 kg) in weight and 4 feet (1.2 metres) in length. That's about the size of a large dog.

Capybaras have small eyes, noses and hairless ears that are on the top of their heads. This is so they can see, breathe and hear while the rest of their bodies are under the water. They can stay underwater for up to five minutes at a time.

Capybaras love the water and are excellent swimmers. Their toes are partly webbed and their short fur dries out quickly on land. They spend most of the day in the water or mud to keep cool.

Capybaras live to be 8-10 years of age.

webbed - toes are connected by extra skin, like a duck's feet

Like other rodents, capybaras' teeth are always growing. They wear them down by chewing on grasses, plants and aquatic plants.

Strangely, they also eat their own feces in the morning! The plants and grasses they eat are difficult to digest, so they eat their feces and digest it again.

wear down -  make smaller / shorter

aquatic - plants that grow in water

feces - poop

digest - break down food to be used by the body

Capybara mums will have one litter of 4-5 babies every year. Baby capybaras are called pups.

They will drink their mother's milk for about 16 weeks, but are able to eat grass after just a few days. They are born with all their teeth and learn very quickly. 

When they are young, they will ride on their mothers' back as they are not very good swimmers and need to avoid predators, such as caimans (small alligators).

However, pups have lots of care. All the females in the group will help take care of the babies and will even nurse them!

litter - group of animal babies

nurse - give milk