Capybaras live in large herds in South America. They inhabit grasslands and areas near bodies of water. As herbivores, they eat various plants and grasses. Capybaras are mostly active at night to avoid heat and predators like jaguars. They use water to cool off, hide from danger, and protect their young. Capybaras live in family groups that can include up to 100 individuals led by a single male. Females give birth in the dry season to litters of up to 6 young.

1. CAPYBARAS
Antonio Romero

2. Table of Contents

3. Habitat
 South America, Argentine, Venezuela, Peru, Amazon
 Lots of water where they live
 Habitat is 24 to 49 acres
 Hot where they live
 Uses their habitat for danger
 Live in farms because their habitat is being destroyed
 Flooded grass lands

4. Food and Water
 Herbivores
 Plants from water
 Eats six to eight pounds
 Don’t eat in the same place
 Eat grains, melons, and squashes
 Chew tough bark to keep their teeth from becoming too long
 Eat their droppings
 Need special bacteria to make plants nutritious
 Hard to digest grass
 Choose food carefully

5. Daily Behaviors
 Active at Night
 They search food when in cool day
 Plunges into the water at any sign of danger
 Foxes, vultures, jaguars, caimans are predators
 Humans are also predators
 Rest in water
 Use water to hide
 Young in the middle when in danger
 Water protects their skin
 Both feed their young
 Only have babies in dry season
 Too hot for capybaras to stay active in the day
 Are peaceful and social
 Males have great senses
 They mate before the rain

6. Family Structure
 Male is the leader
 Male and females look alike
 Can be up to 100 capybaras in the herd
 Enjoy being in groups
 There is only one male in a small family
 Females can have 6 to 1 babies
 In dry season a group might gather with other groups to form a
herd
 Baby capybaras can be up to two pounds
 Often chooses her mate

7. Interesting Facts
 Born alive
 Worlds largest rodent
 Web feet
 Weigh up to 60 to 100 pounds
 Capybaras can gallop as fast as a horse
 They only mate with one male
 Eat hay
 They have 3 toes in back and 4 in the front

8. Bibliography Format
C. Richard , Taylor the World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book,2008.