Capybara/Capybaras

The capybara (*Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris*) is the largest living rodent in the world and a highly social mammal native to South America. A single animal is called a **capybara**, while a group is commonly referred to as a **herd**, **mob**, or **colony** of capybaras—reflecting their gregarious nature. The male is known as a **boar**, the female as a **sow**, and the young are called **pups** or **kittens**, typically born in litters of 2 to 8 after a gestation period of about 130 days. Capybaras have a barrel-shaped body, short legs, a blunt snout, and partially webbed feet that make them excellent swimmers. They can grow up to 4.5 feet (1.3 meters) long and weigh between 75 to 150 pounds (35 to 70 kg). Their coarse, brownish fur, small ears, and eyes positioned high on the head allow them to remain mostly submerged in water while still seeing and hearing their surroundings. As herbivores, they have strong, chisel-like incisors that continuously grow and are used to graze on grasses, aquatic plants, and fruits. They are crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk, and communicate through soft whistles, purrs, and scent marking.

Capybaras inhabit savannas, dense forests, and wetlands across much of South America east of the Andes, including countries such as Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, and Paraguay. They are never far from water—found along rivers, lakes, swamps, and marshes—where they spend much of their time swimming, cooling off, or escaping predators like jaguars, caimans, and anacondas. Their semi-aquatic lifestyle allows them to dive and stay underwater for up to five minutes, using their ability to close their nostrils and ears. There are two recognized species: the common capybara (*Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris*) and the lesser capybara (*Hydrochoerus isthmius*), which is smaller and found only in Panama and northwestern Colombia. While no domesticated breeds exist, regional populations of the common capybara show slight variations in size and coloration based on habitat and climate. These gentle animals live in stable social groups of 10 to 30 individuals, led by a dominant male, and exhibit cooperative behaviors such as communal nursing and shared vigilance against threats.

Culturally, capybaras hold a unique place in South American traditions. In some Indigenous communities, they have been hunted sustainably for meat and hide, with every part of the animal utilized. In Venezuela and Colombia, capybara is traditionally eaten during Lent, as the Catholic Church once classified it as a fish due to its aquatic habits—a classification that allowed consumption during fasting periods. Today, capybaras are increasingly seen as symbols of calmness and sociability, popularized by viral images of them peacefully coexisting with birds, turtles, and even humans. They appear in zoos and eco-tourism sites across the continent and have gained international fame for their docile, friendly demeanor. Ecologically, capybaras play an important role in their ecosystems. As grazers, they help maintain grassland structure and promote plant regeneration. Their wallowing creates microhabitats used by amphibians and invertebrates, and their dung enriches aquatic and terrestrial soils. They also serve as prey for apex predators, contributing to food web stability. Though currently listed as **Least Concern** by the IUCN, capybaras face localized threats from habitat loss, hunting, and disease transmission in areas where they come into contact with livestock. As both ecological engineers and cultural icons, capybaras exemplify the harmony possible between wildlife and human appreciation of nature’s quiet giants.

We keep adding images as will as print-on-demand products of capybaras as time goes on. The easiest way to keep up-to-date is to subscribe to our newsletter.

If you would like them applied to a particular kind of clothing item which is missing, then please contact us!