By Pets Atlas 
Capybaras are more than just ordinary rodents; the key reason why they are known for being the world’s largest rodent is their amazingly interesting characteristics that catches the attention of researchers and animal lovers. Surviving in the freshwaters of South America, these cute little creatures are known for being highly social and for the love for water that keeps them adaptible in different set of environments. This is just not it. There’s a lot more to this large rodents that exist on our planet. Let’s take a look into some of the most fascinating capybara fun facts that them so special.
1. They Live In Groups
One of the coolest capybara fun facts is they are very social. Capybaras prefer to live in groups of at least 10 to 20 members, in some cases even larger groups are witnessed in the wild. Their social nature is necessary for their survival as this offers opportunities to locate food and also helps in protecting them from from predators. Capybaras are also recognized for communicating through a variety of methods like whistling, barking, and purring which makes their interactions all the more dynamic.
The calm and gentle demeanor of Capybaras allows them to peacefully coexist with other animals. In fact, they have been seen to form unusual friendship bonds with other species like monkeys, cats and ducks. Their ability to get along so easily with other animals makes them even more popular and interesting. This adds up to their charm especially when they are in wildlife sanctuaries and zoos around the world.
2. They Love Water
Another very interesting fact about capybaras is that they love water. Also recognized as semi-aquatic, capybaras are excellent swimmers. They can be easily located near water bodies like lakes, swamps and rivers. A surprisingly interesting capybara fun facts is that they are able to hold their breath under the water for a duration of 5 minutes at a stretch. This helps them to avoid and escape from their predators. They easily live normaly in tropical and hot climate areas.
As far their physical characteristics are concerned, Capybaras have webbed feet. These feets help them to swim and cross large water bodies easily. They are recognized to submerge themselves inside water, with only their nostrils and eyes visible above the surface, just like a hippopotamus. This ability of capybaras supports them in staying at cool places and providing safe haven from land-based predators.
3. They Are Pure Vegetarians
Capybaras easily weighs about 140 pounds and can stand tall about two feet at the shoulder. Despite being this big size giants among rodents, they are plant eaters. They are strictly herbivores who prefer to feed on fruits, grasses and aquatic plants. One of the amazing capybara fun facts is that they have the habit of eating their own feces. Yes, you read it right. Capybaras eat their own poop. This capability is also termed as coprophagy, a process that helps them to digest their food acurately while extracting required nutrients.
Capybaras have excellent digestive system which helps them to break down tough plant material which some of the big animals too cannot digest. Their ever-growing big teeth can their preferred diet which includes a huge variety of vegetation available around. When in the wild, capybaras have a crucial role to play in their ecosystem. They do this by eating and control the growth of various plants and grasses.
Image courtesy: https://www.britannica.com/animal/capybara-genus
4. They Mate Inside the Water
The reproductive strategy of Capybaras is very fascinating. They prefer mating when they are under the water which ensures the survival of their species. The process bring advantage to female capybaras who can pick their mate without gaining much attention. Post the gestation period of five months, the female capybaras gives birth 4-6 pups in a go. Many other rodents do not posses such capabilities. Capybara pups are fully furred animals when they are born with their eyes open and ready to follow their mother right after their birth.
Despite their weaning capabilities, young capybaras require nursing for several months. They are found close to their mother or other members of the group who are constantly teaching them essential survival skills all the while. The concept of close-knit family structure is an interesting capybara fun facts to learn from capybaras always giving lessons on strong social bonds.
5. Capybaras are Popular
In recent times, Capybaras have gained popularity due to their interesting habits. They are known beings within their native habitats as well as around the world. The laid-back nature and friendly attitude they have has made them popular stars of the zoos. Visitors find them charming looking at their interesting activities. Capybaras are captivating the audiences with their allure on on social media, commercials as well as cartoons. Their unique appearance and relaxed demeanor has made them the most beloved animals of the animal kingdom capturing a large loyal fan base.
6. They Face Hunting Threats
Capybaras cannot be considered endangered yet but do face threats from hunting and loss of their habitat. In significant parts of South America, capybaras are known to be hunted for their hide and meat which is used to make leather. Despite of what’s going around them, their ability to survive in different environments, helps them maintain stable populations.
A less known capybara fun facts is they play a vital role in their ecosystem. This is known as keystone species. Their surival on different vegetations and grasses helps them in maintaining the balance of plant life within their habitats. This factor helps many other species that thrive on the same food sources. Various levels of conservation efforts are being directed to protect their natural habitats as they are crucial to ensure the survival of these remarkable rodents.
Capybaras are amazingly unique animals that come with blend of characteristics making them both endearing and fascinating. Their various capabilities like suriving in different aquatic adaptations and sociallizing in large groups play a vital role in the ecosystem. The countless capybara fun facts listed above highlight why these little furry creatures have captured the hearts of many. So if you are a wildlife enthusiast or an animal lover, dive into the world of capybaras and learn about the incredible diversity of their life on our planet.
Featured image courtesy: https://www.reddit.com