The Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris )
Unusual Creatures of Guyana
By Sharmain Grainger
Kaieteur News
March 11, 2007
The Capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris ), commonly called the water pig, another unusual and interesting creature of Guyana , happens to be the largest rodent in the world.
Rodents are distinguished by their two sharp-edged incisors (cutting teeth) and in the capybara these are easily observable by their yellow colour.
Looking rather like a cross between a giant guinea-pig and a hippotamus, this creature was able to retain the ‘largest of all the 1,729 species of living rodents' status, despite the extinction of even bigger forms of the animal.
But if such specimens are still in existence it is believed that they can reach an adult weight of more than 65 kg and an overall length of about a metre and a shoulder height of about 60 cm.
But the full-grown capybara that can be found in Guyana, mainly in the Rupununi, have short, stocky bodies weighing about 35 kg and meeting lengths from 40 to 55 cm with shoulder heights of 30 cm.
Females are said to be larger than males, but both genders have tough skin with thin hair all over their bodies and range in colour from brown to reddish. Occasionally there is some black on the face, outer limbs and the rump (the fleshy upper part of the rear quarters of an animal).
The younger are noticeably lighter coloured than adults.
Capybara inhabiting the colder regions of South American are said to have long shaggy coats.
And while these creatures have short legs their front legs are longer than the back with toes which are slightly webbed, which have been noted as an asset in their ability to swim well.
These giant rodents have a relatively small nose, short tail, while their short ears and eyes are both located at the top of the head so that they can be easily kept above water when swimming.
Another interesting fact about these animals is that they have teeth that do not stop growing and there is a bump at the middle of some of the males' noses which appear to be a scent gland of some kind.
The capybara is semi-aquatic, living in grassy wetland areas or close to rivers. They live in large groups along river banks where they graze peacefully on lush grasses and aquatic vegetations, tree barks, grains, melon and occasionally fruits.
They carry out most of their activities on land, using water as a refuge where they swim and dive with ease.
They can hold their breath underwater for only a few minutes but can hide in water when necessary for much longer, with only their noses sticking out.
The family group is typically controlled by a dominant male, and is made up of females, younger males and young. Group sizes can vary according to season but ranges from 10 to 100 individuals, with 20 being the most usual.
During the dry season when there is less open water, larger groups can form since they congregate around the remaining water.
They communicate with barks, whistles, clicks, squeals and grunts, and scent appears to be a big part of their life since the dominant male of the group smears scents from his nose onto grasses in his territory during mating season to attract females.
Mating more often than not takes place in the water and after a period of 130 days a litter of two to eight babies are born. The newborns can follow their mother around and eat plants almost immediately although they still drink milk and are not weaned until about 16 weeks.
Other females in the group also assist in their care during the early stages.
And while the average life span for a capybara in the wild is about 10 years this is often reduced to about four as they are a favourite food of anacondas, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, eagles and caimans.
Additionally, in regions along the Parana River in Southern Brazil, Bolivia , Northern Argentina, Southeast Columbia and Uruguay , capybaras are occasionally hunted for food and for leather. Their skin is said to be great for making high quality leather.
Reports are that this creature is also threatened by farmers in Venezuela who once considered the animal a pest, but are now making a valuable addition to their incomes by selling capybara meat (approximately 400 metric tonnes annually.)
The rodents are said to be rounded up in February so that they can be slaughtered and sold just before the onset of Lent when the meat is in high demand.
It is believed that the popularity of the meat in Venezuela is attributed to a 16th century theological decision by the Roman Catholic Church responding to queries by Venezuelan Catholics that capybara meat is equivalent to fish meat for the purpose of Lent.
The decision may have been taken on the basis of incomplete or inaccurate descriptions of the capybara available to the church authorities in Rome but it was never reversed, and to this day, it is the only warm-blooded animal with this status.
Meanwhile, in some other countries this giant rodent is kept for decorative purposes at public parks, farms and tourist resorts which have access to suitable water bodies. They are allowed to roam freely and can adapt easily to human presence and permit petting and hand feeding.
However according to some reports in Southeast Brazil this custom has caused trouble since the creature was found to be a reservoir for the Rocky Mountain spotted fever (in the US ). This disease can be transmitted to humans by the start tick, a common parasite of many animals, including capybaras.
Responding to pressure from health authorities and public opinion many public places in those states have eliminated the capybaras they once kept.