giant capybara rodent lives in Central and South America, in the territory of French Guiana, Peru, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.This herbivorous mammal belongs to the order capybaras.Some of the Europeans and calls this large animal.Translated from the Native American word for "capybara" means "lord of herbs."It is said that the largest rodent in Europe has a good-natured disposition.
structure and size
adult capybara weighs 35 to 66 kilograms.The length of its body ranges from 106 to 134 cm, height reaches 50-64 centimeters.Scientists have recorded the weight of the largest female - 91 kg, male - 74 kg.Impressive size, is not it?
largest rodent in the world endowed with an impressive structure.He has an impressive head.Skull massive, strong cheekbones.The frontal arc from capybaras have a wide shape.
In general, the skeleton of the animal heavy.Hind legs slightly longer than the front capybaras.At the toes are webbed at the animal, allowing it to move quickly in the water.
Nature gave him a painting in gray and brownish-red colors.The most common area of the rodent's belly is colored reddish color.Muzzle a tone lighter than the background.The young gyzuna in color prevails over reddish hues.
Where can I see the animal
Capybaras live in very dense forests near a variety of ponds, swamps, lakes and rivers.Reservoirs - their element.Pets are trying far removed from them.
largest rodent in the world to respond quickly to environmental changes.For example, the seasonal rains cause capybaras disperse throughout.But as soon as there comes a warm period of rain, the animals congregate on the shores of lakes and other large bodies of water.
to feed themselves, the largest rodent in the world is able to travel long distances.In the wild capybaras feed on aquatic plants, tubers, grass and other grass.
Favorite activities
impressive size of the animal are not a hindrance to its agile movement on land and in water.Capybaras excellent swimmers and divers.Completely immersed in water, and they can stay there for 4-6 minutes.
This feature helps them hide from land-based predators.Capybaras can even sleep in the reservoirs.However, provided that their head is located so that the nose located on the surface.This ensures animal access to oxygen.
Animals bathe in water from morning to afternoon.The rest of the regale vegetation.Capybaras sleep a few hours, mainly after midnight.At dawn, they actively graze.If rodents are starting to bother predators, they begin to feed at night.
Lifestyle
largest rodent, capybara - quite sociable animal.Therefore, the "lord of grass" lives in a group.Typically it comprises from 25 to 20 individuals.It is noticed that in the dry areas capybaras form larger herds than where the humidity is higher.
During the dry season animals are trying to be close to water and form groups of 100 or more individuals.At the head of the herd is the largest male.He does not tolerate potential competitors and strive to drive them from the group.
Therefore, the flock are subordinate males and adult females with offspring.Groups capybaras occupy a land area of 10.9 hectares.Basically in such territory the animals graze, to rest them enough of one hectare.Sometimes the animals in the herd there are quarrels.
Some males live solitary, but this rarely happens.The females in the group engaged in the education of the young.As a rule, the offspring do not divide on their own and others.Females are coddled with kids capybaras whole group.
rodents Mating usually occurs during the rainy season.Pregnant females lasts about 150 days.The fairer sex birth to 3-9 cubs.
Small capybaras are born with the hair and teeth erupted.Birth weight of 1.5 kilograms.Females recognized caring mummies.They carefully take care of small animals fed them with her milk for 4 months.Then, the grown young can eat different vegetation.
Capybara can be considered adult individuals at 14-18 months.The female can generate offspring 2-3 times a year.
Communication between a
largest rodent in the land famous for ringing voice.Shades sounds quite different from the animal.In herd animals the whole time whistle and emit a characteristic clicking.
When approaching danger capybaras bark like a dog.Worried giant rodents are jaguars, anacondas and alligators.Ground predators for capybaras are not as terrible as those that can live on land and in water.In the wild big animals live about 10 years in captivity - 12 years.
Capybara and people
In modern times people capybaras catches and throws at specialized farms.There are many entrepreneurs in Venezuela.The animals are grown for meat, skin and fat, which is valued in famatsevtike.
Nowadays, there are many such enterprises in the places where there are these rodents.The number of capybaras farm different - from 600 to 30 thousand.The meat of the animal is in demand on the market.It is tender and juicy, it tastes like pork.
Some animal lovers tend to have at capybara as a pet.This animal has a friendly and affectionate disposition.The largest rodent in the world - being trusting and easy to get along not only with people but also to animals.
noticed that "Mr. herbs" can even train.For example, the capybara is able to file a leg man better than a dog.She also loves affection and often sticks to his master's back, the abdomen, offering pet them.
The diet of these animals picky.Capybara taste of melon, squash, corn and pellets.Animals should definitely offer the branches of trees for teeth grinding.
However, despite the seeming simplicity of this rodent care, a person should take care of the pool and roomy spacious enclosures as capybara - freedom-loving animal, in adverse conditions, it may die.
