Random Magical Facts About the Life of the Capybara (16 items)

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  (#1) Baby Capybaras Can't Swim

  Though the majority of their lives will ultimately be spent in the water, newborn capybaras are not very good swimmers. As a result, they spend their first several months living near the water, hidden by large brush.

  The entire capybara group works to nurse the young and protect them from harm. Baby capybaras nurse on every female in the community, and beta males work to stay vigilant to protect the group from harm.
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  (#12) Several Capybara Groups Can Occupy The Same Home Range

  For most of their lives, capybaras occupy a general “home range” from five to 500 acres. Typically, though, most capybara groups are only willing to defend a much smaller patch of land — an area maxing out at around 50 acres.

  With all that wandering to do, capybara groups are forced to overlap territories. Often, there’s little trouble among groups provided they maintain their distance. Half a mile apart is the sweet spot.
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  (#13) Capybaras Wear Their Sexual Authority Right On Their Nose

  While scientists remain unsure of the characteristics that determine which capybaras become the dominant males in their groups, the modern assertion theorizes it has something to do with a capybara’s morillo. The morillo is a large scent gland sitting atop the capybara’s nose. Female morillos are small and under-developed, while male morillos are used as a status symbol among the capybara community.

  The size of a male morillo is associated with the general size of their testes, and thereby a measurement of their virility. Males also rub their morillos on vegetation as a means of marking their territory.
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  (#9) Capybara Communities Swell And Shrink Throughout The Year

  During the wet season when food is more readily available, capybaras tend to live in groups of about 10-30 members. When the dry season comes around, food becomes more scarce and capybara communities can swell to around 100 members as they all gather around available water sources.
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  (#10) Anacondas Are Just One Of The Animals That Find Capybaras Both Cute And Delicious

  Perhaps unsurprisingly, several animals find capybaras to be a wonderful snack. The primary threat to the water hog is the anaconda, but they’re also known to be attacked by jaguar, pumas, and piranhas. Baby capybaras are also susceptible to being carried off by eagles and ocelots. Some South American locals also eat capybara, as well.

  One animal that isn’t known to attack capybara is the South American crocodile. That’s why there have been several photographs capturing capybaras and crocodiles sharing the same river bank.
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  (#3) Capybaras Are Most Commonly Active At Dawn And Dusk

  When comfortable in their environment, capybaras act as crepuscular animals. This means they’re most often active at dawn and dusk, sleeping through the heat of the day and hiding out at night.

  Should they feel as though a threat is present, capybaras can also convert to completely nocturnal behavior in which they eat and socialize entirely at night.

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