Country intro
Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)
After a day or two in the Pantanal, we were used to the Caiman being no direct harm to us. So we were floating in our boat, engines shut down, right in the middle of a swamp pool with many Caiman within touching distance. For minutes there was absolute silence as we enjoyed the overwhelming amount of wildlife we spotted. Until this silence was abrupted by an enormous splash. Our hearts skipped a few beats, expecting to be under attack by a Caiman.
But it was this Capybara, the largest rodent in the world, coming out of the water. It can stay under water for 5 minutes and it does not fear Caiman at all.
The capybara is the largest extant rodent in the world. Its closest relatives are agouti, chinchillas, coyphillas, and guinea pigs. Native to South America, the capybara inhabits savannas and dense forests and lives near bodies of water. It is a highly social species and can be found in groups as large as 100 individuals, but usually lives in groups of 10 - 20 individuals. The capybara is not a threatened species, though it is hunted for its meat and skin.
