Capybaras (Hydrochoerus spp.) Fact Sheet: Physical Characteristics

Source for data, above: Lord (2009); Wilson and Mittermeier (2016)

* 35 to 65.5 kg (77 lb to 144 lb) in Venezula's Llano region; a record 91 kg (200 lb) in southern Brazil

General

• Largest living rodent
• Body size and mass increases with a population's increased latitude
• Resembles a large guinea pig
• Barrel-shaped body
• Heavy, blunt muzzle
• Cheek teeth ever-growing
• Front legs shorter than rear legs
• Nails strong, hoof like
• Spends a lot of time in water
  • Eyes and small ears set high on head (can be alert while nearly underwater)
  • Can stay fully underwater for several minutes
  • Slightly webbed toes (four on the front, three on the back)
  • Water immersion helps capybara regulate body temperature

Pelage and Skin

• Hunted for pelts in historic times and managed on ranches today
  • 1960 to 1969: 1.5 million skins exported from Brazil
• Coloration generally reddish-brown to grayish on upper parts, yellow-brown on undercarriage
• Some black on the face, outer limbs and rump
• Long, course, and sparse hair may help this water-loving animal dry when out of water
  • Thin hair makes sunburn a problem; mud caked on hair offers protection
• Low number of sweat glands in skin, plus large body size, make thermal stress a problem

• Males have large visible scent gland (morrillo) on top of snout
• Used to rub on vegetation to mark territory
• May function also as status signal
  • Larger morrillos associated with larger testes and greater sexual activity
• Females have same gland, but underdeveloped

• Teeth of capybara grow throughout life in all dimensions
• Cutting and grinding surfaces become more complex as an individual ages

Star-shaped footprints

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Herrera (1992)
MacDonald (1984)
Mones & Ojasti (1986)
Pereira et al (1980)
Nowak (1999)