Capybara: Difference between revisions

Capybara
	In Petrópolis, Brazil
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Caviidae
Genus:	Hydrochoerus
Species:	H. hydrochaeris
Binomial name
	Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris; (Linnaeus, 1766)
	Native range
Synonyms
	Sus hydrochaeris Linnaeus, 1766

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The capybara^[a] or greater capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is a giant cavy rodent native to South America. It is the largest living rodent^[2] and a member of the genus Hydrochoerus. The only other extant member is the lesser capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius). Its close relatives include guinea pigs and rock cavies, and it is more distantly related to the agouti, the chinchilla, and the nutria. 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 live in groups of 10–20 individuals. The capybara is hunted for its meat and hide and also for grease from its thick fatty skin.^[3]

Etymology

Its common name is derived from Tupi ka'apiûara, a complex agglutination of kaá (leaf) + píi (slender) + ú (eat) + ara (a suffix for agent nouns), meaning "one who eats slender leaves", or "grass-eater".^[4] The genus name, hydrochoerus, comes from Greek ὕδωρ (hydor "water") and χοῖρος (choiros "pig, hog") and the species name, hydrochaeris, comes from Greek ὕδωρ (hydor "water") and χαίρω (chairo "feel happy, enjoy").^[5]^[6]

Classification and phylogeny

The capybara and the lesser capybara both belong to the subfamily Hydrochoerinae along with the rock cavies. The living capybaras and their extinct relatives were previously classified in their own family Hydrochoeridae.^[7] Since 2002, molecular phylogenetic studies have recognized a close relationship between Hydrochoerus and Kerodon, the rock cavies,^[8] supporting placement of both genera in a subfamily of Caviidae.^[5]

Paleontological classifications previously used Hydrochoeridae for all capybaras, while using Hydrochoerinae for the living genus and its closest fossil relatives, such as Neochoerus,^[9]^[10] but more recently have adopted the classification of Hydrochoerinae within Caviidae.^[11] The taxonomy of fossil hydrochoerines is also in a state of flux. In recent years, the diversity of fossil hydrochoerines has been substantially reduced.^[9]^[10] This is largely due to the recognition that capybara molar teeth show strong variation in shape over the life of an individual. In one instance, material once referred to four genera and seven species on the basis of differences in molar shape is now thought to represent differently aged individuals of a single species, Cardiatherium paranense.^[9] Among fossil species, the name "capybara" can refer to the many species of Hydrochoerinae that are more closely related to the modern Hydrochoerus than to the "cardiomyine" rodents like Cardiomys. The fossil genera Cardiatherium, Phugatherium, Hydrochoeropsis, and Neochoerus are all capybaras under that concept.^[11]

Description

The capybara has a heavy, barrel-shaped body and short head, with reddish-brown fur on the upper part of its body that turns yellowish-brown underneath. Its sweat glands can be found in the surface of the hairy portions of its skin, an unusual trait among rodents.^[7] The animal lacks down hair, and its guard hair differs little from over hair.^[12]

Adult capybaras grow to 106 to 134 cm (3.48 to 4.40 ft) in length, stand 50 to 62 cm (20 to 24 in) tall at the withers, and typically weigh 35 to 66 kg (77 to 146 lb), with an average in the Venezuelan llanos of 48.9 kg (108 lb).^[13]^[14]^[15] Females are slightly heavier than males. The top recorded weights are 91 kg (201 lb) for a wild female from Brazil and 73.5 kg (162 lb) for a wild male from Uruguay.^[7]^[16] Also, an 81 kg individual was reported in São Paulo in 2001 or 2002.^[17] The dental formula is 1.0.1.31.0.1.3. Capybaras have slightly webbed feet and vestigial tails.^[7] Their hind legs are slightly longer than their forelegs; they have three toes on their rear feet and four toes on their front feet.^[18] Their muzzles are blunt, with nostrils, and the eyes and ears are near the top of their heads.

Its karyotype has 2n = 66 and FN = 102, meaning it has 66 chromosomes with a total of 102 arms.^[5]^[7]

Ecology

Capybaras are semiaquatic mammals^[15] found throughout all countries of South America except Chile.^[19] They live in densely forested areas near bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds, and marshes,^[14] as well as flooded savannah and along rivers in the tropical rainforest. They are superb swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes at a time. Capybara have flourished in cattle ranches. They roam in home ranges averaging 10 hectares (25 acres) in high-density populations.^[7]

Many escapees from captivity can also be found in similar watery habitats around the world. Sightings are fairly common in Florida, although a breeding population has not yet been confirmed.^[20] In 2011, one specimen was spotted on the Central Coast of California.^[21] These escaped populations occur in areas where prehistoric capybaras inhabited; late Pleistocene capybaras inhabited Florida^[22] and Hydrochoerus hesperotiganites in California and Hydrochoerus gaylordi in Grenada, and feral capybaras in North America may actually fill the ecological niche of the Pleistocene species.^[23]

Diet and predation

Capybaras are herbivores, grazing mainly on grasses and aquatic plants,^[14]^[24] as well as fruit and tree bark.^[15] They are very selective feeders^[25] and feed on the leaves of one species and disregard other species surrounding it. They eat a greater variety of plants during the dry season, as fewer plants are available. While they eat grass during the wet season, they have to switch to more abundant reeds during the dry season.^[26] Plants that capybaras eat during the summer lose their nutritional value in the winter, so they are not consumed at that time.^[25] The capybara's jaw hinge is not perpendicular, so they chew food by grinding back-and-forth rather than side-to-side.^[27] Capybaras are autocoprophagous,^[28] meaning they eat their own feces as a source of bacterial gut flora, to help digest the cellulose in the grass that forms their normal diet, and to extract the maximum protein and vitamins from their food. They also regurgitate food to masticate again, similar to cud-chewing by cattle.^[28]^[29] Like other rodents, a capybara's front teeth grow continually to compensate for the constant wear from eating grasses;^[19] their cheek teeth also grow continuously.^[27]

Like its relative the guinea pig, the capybara does not have the capacity to synthesize vitamin C, and capybaras not supplemented with vitamin C in captivity have been reported to develop gum disease as a sign of scurvy.^[30]

The maximum lifespan of the capybara is 8 to 10 years,^[31] but in the wild capybaras usually do not live longer than four years because of predation from South American big cats such as jaguars and pumas and from non-mammalian predators such as eagles, caimans, and green anacondas.^[19]^[32]

Social organization

Capybaras are known to be gregarious. While they sometimes live solitarily, they are more commonly found in groups of around 10–20 individuals, with two to four adult males, four to seven adult females, and the remainder juveniles.^[33] Capybara groups can consist of as many as 50 or 100 individuals during the dry season^[29]^[34] when the animals gather around available water sources. Males establish social bonds, dominance, or general group consensus.^[34] They can make dog-like barks^[29] when threatened or when females are herding young.^[35]

Capybaras have two types of scent glands: a morrillo, located on the snout, and anal glands. Both sexes have these glands, but males have much larger morrillos and use their anal glands more frequently. The anal glands of males are also lined with detachable hairs. A crystalline form of scent secretion is coated on these hairs and is released when in contact with objects such as plants. These hairs have a longer-lasting scent mark and are tasted by other capybaras. Capybaras scent-mark by rubbing their morrillos on objects, or by walking over scrub and marking it with their anal glands. Capybaras can spread their scent further by urinating; however, females usually mark without urinating and scent-mark less frequently than males overall. Females mark more often during the wet season when they are in estrus. In addition to objects, males also scent-mark females.^[36]

Reproduction

Free-living capybaras in the southern Pantanal, MS, Brazil

When in estrus, the female's scent changes subtly and nearby males begin pursuit.^[37] In addition, a female alerts males she is in estrus by whistling through her nose.^[29] During mating, the female has the advantage and mating choice. Capybaras mate only in water, and if a female does not want to mate with a certain male, she either submerges or leaves the water.^[29]^[34] Dominant males are highly protective of the females, but they usually cannot prevent some of the subordinates from copulating. The larger the group, the harder it is for the male to watch all the females. Dominant males secure significantly more matings than each subordinate, but subordinate males, as a class, are responsible for more matings than each dominant male.^[37] The lifespan of the capybara's sperm is longer than that of other rodents.^[38]

Capybara gestation is 130–150 days, and produces a litter of four young on average, but may produce between one and eight in a single litter.^[7] Birth is on land and the female rejoins the group within a few hours of delivering the newborn capybaras, which join the group as soon as they are mobile. Within a week, the young can eat grass, but continue to suckle—from any female in the group—until weaned around 16 weeks. The young form a group within the main group.^[19] Alloparenting has been observed in this species.^[34] Breeding peaks between April and May in Venezuela and between October and November in Mato Grosso, Brazil.^[7]

Activities

Though quite agile on land, capybaras are equally at home in the water. They are excellent swimmers, and can remain completely submerged for up to five minutes,^[14] an ability they use to evade predators. Capybaras can sleep in water, keeping only their noses out. As temperatures increase during the day, they wallow in water and then graze during the late afternoon and early evening.^[7] They also spend time wallowing in mud.^[18] They rest around midnight and then continue to graze before dawn.^[7]

Communication

Capybaras communicate using barks, chirps, whistles, huffs, and purrs.^[39]

A capybara in captivity, 2009

Conservation and human interaction

Capybaras are not considered a threatened species;^[1] their population is stable throughout most of their South American range, though in some areas hunting has reduced their numbers.^[14]^[19] Capybaras are hunted for their meat and pelts in some areas,^[40] and otherwise killed by humans who see their grazing as competition for livestock. In some areas, they are farmed, which has the effect of ensuring the wetland habitats are protected. Their survival is aided by their ability to breed rapidly.^[19]

Capybaras have adapted well to urbanization in South America. They can be found in many areas in zoos and parks,^[27] and may live for 12 years in captivity, more than double their wild lifespan.^[19] Capybaras are docile and usually allow humans to pet and hand-feed them, but physical contact is normally discouraged, as their ticks can be vectors to Rocky Mountain spotted fever.^[41] The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria asked Drusillas Park in Alfriston, Sussex, England, to keep the studbook for capybaras, to monitor captive populations in Europe. The studbook includes information about all births, deaths and movements of capybaras, as well as how they are related.^[42]

Capybaras are farmed for meat and skins in South America.^[43] The meat is considered unsuitable to eat in some areas, while in other areas it is considered an important source of protein.^[7] In parts of South America, especially in Venezuela, capybara meat is popular during Lent and Holy Week as the Catholic Church previously issued special dispensation to allow it to be eaten while other meats are generally forbidden.^[44] After several attempts a 1784 Papal bull was obtained that allowed the consumption of capybara during Lent.^[45]^[46] There is widespread perception in Venezuela that consumption of capybaras is exclusive to rural people.^[47]

File:Capybara-orange.gif

Capybara in pool

In August 2021, Argentine and international media reported that capybaras had been causing serious problems for residents of Nordelta, an affluent gated community north of Buenos Aires built atop wetland habitat. This inspired social media users to jokingly adopt the capybara as a symbol of class struggle and communism.^[48]^[49] Brazilian Lyme-like borreliosis likely involves capybaras as reservoirs and Amblyomma and Rhipicephalus ticks as vectors.^[50]

Popularity and meme culture

In the early 2020s, capybaras became a growing figure of meme culture due to many factors, including the disturbances in Nordelta^[49] which led to them being comically postulated as figures of class struggle. Also, a common meme format includes capybaras in various situations with the song "After Party" by Don Toliver,^[51] leading to a tremendous growth in popularity.^[52] Capybaras are also associated with the phrase "Ok I pull up", the opening lyric in Toliver's song.^[53]

Notes

^ Also referred as capivara (in Brazil), capiguara (in Bolivia), chigüire, chigüiro, or fercho (in Colombia and Venezuela), carpincho (in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) and ronsoco (in Peru).

References

^ ^a ^b Reid, F. (2016). "Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T10300A22190005. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T10300A22190005.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^ Basic Biology (2015). "Rodents".
^ Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) Archived 2012-01-03 at the Wayback Machine. ARKive.org
^ Ferreira, A. B. H. (1986) Novo Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa, 2nd ed., Rio de Janeiro: Nova Fronteira, p.344
^ ^a ^b ^c Woods, C.A.; Kilpatrick, C.W. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1556. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
^
Darwin, Charles R. (1839). Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle between the years 1826 and 1836, describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagle's circumnavigation of the globe. Journal and remarks. 1832–1836. London: Henry Colburn. p. 619.
- In page 57, Darwin says "The largest gnawing animal in the world, the Hydrochærus Capybara (the water-hog), is here also common."
- See it also in The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Mones, Alvaro; Ojasti, Juhani (16 June 1986). "Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris". Mammalian Species (264): 1–7. doi:10.2307/3503784. JSTOR 3503784. S2CID 250991487.
^ Rowe, Diane L.; Honeycutt, Rodney L. (March 2002). "Phylogenetic Relationships, Ecological Correlates, and Molecular Evolution Within the Cavioidea (Mammalia, Rodentia)". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 19 (3): 263–277. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a004080. PMID 11861886.
^ ^a ^b ^c Vucetich, María G.; Deschamps, Cecilia M.; Olivares, Itatí; Dozo, María T. (2005). "Capybaras, size, shape, and time: A model kit". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 50 (2): 259–272.
^ ^a ^b Deschamps, Cecilia M.; Olivares, Itatí; Vieytes, Emma Carolina; Vucetich, María Guiomar (12 September 2007). "Ontogeny and diversity of the oldest capybaras (Rodentia: Hydrochoeridae; late Miocene of Argentina)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 27 (3): 683–692. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[683:oadoto]2.0.co;2. JSTOR 30126368. S2CID 86217854.
^ ^a ^b Cerdeño, E.; Pérez, M.E.; Deschamps, C.M.; Contreras, V.H. (2019). "A new capybara from the late Miocene of San Juan Province, Argentina, and its phylogenetic implications". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 64 (1): 199–212. doi:10.4202/app.00544.2018. hdl:11336/117299.
^ "The Cabybara – 10 Facts About the World's Largest Rodent". WorldAtlas. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
^ Capybara Archived 2012-01-03 at the Wayback Machine, Arkive
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Capybara Facts. Smithsonian National Zoological Park. Retrieved on December 16, 2007.
^ ^a ^b ^c Capybara. Palm Beach Zoo. Retrieved on December 17, 2007.
^ World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. WAZA. Retrieved on 2011-12-07.
^ Ferraz, Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros; Bonach, Kelly; Verdade, Luciano Martins (2005). "Relationship between body mass and body length in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)". Biota Neotropica. 5 (1): 197–200. doi:10.1590/S1676-06032005000100020.
^ ^a ^b "Capybara Printout". Enchantedlearning.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Bristol Zoo Gardens (UK) Capybara Archived 2007-09-18 at the Wayback Machine. Bristolzoo.org.uk. Retrieved on 2011-12-07.
^ "Nonnatives – Capybara". myfwc.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
^ Mather, Kate (18 August 2011). "A gnawing question answered: It's a capybara roaming Paso Robles". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
^ Baskin, Jon; Gervais, P. Darrow; Gervais, Camille J. (2020). "A Late Pleistocene capybara (Rodentia, Caviidae, Hydrochoerinae) from near Houston, Texas, USA, with a brief review of North American fossil capybaras". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 167: 57. doi:10.1635/053.167.0105. S2CID 216241471.
^ Erick J. Lundgren, Daniel Ramp, John Rowan, Owen Middleton, Simon D. Schowanek, Oscar Sanisidro, Scott P. Carroll, Matt Davis, Christopher J. Sandom, Jens-Christian Svenning, Arian D. Wallach, James A. Estes, 2020, Introduced herbivores restore Late Pleistocene ecological functions, PNAS, 117 (14), pp.7871-7878, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
^ Forero-Montaña, Jimena; Betancur, Julio; Cavelier, Jaime (June 2003). "Dieta del capibara Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Rodentia: Hydrochaeridae) en Caño Limón, Arauca, Colombia" [Distribution and abundance of Caiman crocodilus in the Caño Negro National Wild Life Refuge, Costa Rica]. Revista de Biología Tropical (in Spanish). 51 (2): 571–578. PMID 15162749.
^ ^a ^b Quintana, R.D.; Monge, S.; Malvárez, A.I. (1998). "Feeding patterns of capybara Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Rodentia, Hydrochaeridae) and cattle in the non-insular area of the Lower Delta of the Paraná River, Argentina". Mammalia. 62 (1): 37–52. doi:10.1515/mamm.1998.62.1.37. S2CID 83976640.
^ Barreto, Guillermo R.; Herrera, Emilio A. (1998). "Foraging patterns of capybaras in a seasonally flooded savanna of Venezuela". Journal of Tropical Ecology. 14 (1): 87–98. doi:10.1017/S0266467498000078. JSTOR 2559868. S2CID 84982123.
^ ^a ^b ^c Capybara. Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris. San Francisco Zoo
^ ^a ^b "Meet Taronga's Capybaras". Taronga Zoo. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Lord, Rexford D. (March 1994). "A descriptive account of capybara behaviour". Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment. 29 (1): 11–22. Bibcode:1994SNFE...29...11L. doi:10.1080/01650529409360912.
^ Cueto, Gerardo Ruben; Allekotte, Roman; Kravetz, Fernando Osvaldo (January 2000). "Scurvy in capybaras bred in captivity in Argentine". Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 36 (1): 97–101. doi:10.7589/0090-3558-36.1.97. PMID 10682750. S2CID 6491859.
^ Burton M and Burton R. (2002) The International Wildlife Encyclopedia. Marshall Cavendish, ISBN 0-7614-7269-X, p. 384
^ Capybara, the master of the grasses: pest or prey Sounds and Colours. Retrieved on January 23, 2011.
^ Alho, Cleber J.R.; Rondon, Nelson L. (1987). "Habitats, population densities, and social structure of capybaras (Hydrochaeris Hydrochaeris, Rodentia) in the Pantanal, Brazil". Revista Brasileira de Zoologia. 4 (2): 139–149. doi:10.1590/s0101-81751987000200006.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Macdonald, D. W. (July 1981). "Dwindling resources and the social behaviour of Capybaras, (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) (Mammalia)". Journal of Zoology. 194 (3): 371–391. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1981.tb04588.x.
^ Murphey, Robert M.; Mariano, Jorge S.; Moura Duarte, Francisco A. (May 1985). "Behavioral observations in a capybara colony (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)". Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 14 (1): 89–98. doi:10.1016/0168-1591(85)90040-1.
^ Macdonald, D. W.; Krantz, K.; Aplin, R. T. (March 1984). "Behavioral anatomical and chemical aspects of scent marking among Capybaras (Hydrochaeris hypdrochaeris) (Rodentia: Caviomorpha)". Journal of Zoology. 202 (3): 341–360. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1984.tb05087.x.
^ ^a ^b Herrera, Emilio A.; MacDonald, David W. (1993). "Aggression, dominance, and mating success among capybara males (Hydrochaeris hypdrochaeris)". Behavioral Ecology. 4 (2): 114. doi:10.1093/beheco/4.2.114.
^ Paula, T.A.R.; Chiarini-Garcia, H.; França, L.R. (June 1999). "Seminiferous epithelium cycle and its duration in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)". Tissue and Cell. 31 (3): 327–334. doi:10.1054/tice.1999.0039. PMID 10481304.
^ "Capybara".
^ Thompson, Andy (January 18, 2008) Trip to South America gives new meaning to outdoors life. Richmond Times.
^ "Febre maculosa: "Os médicos no Brasil não conhecem a doença" [Rocky Mountain spotted fever: Brazilian doctors unaware of the disease] (in Portuguese). drauziovarella.com.br. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
^ "Conservation at Drusillas Park". Drusillas.co.uk. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
^ "Capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris". San Diego Zoo. October 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.
^ Ellsworth, Brian (March 24, 2005). "In Days Before Easter, Venezuelans Tuck Into Rodent-Related Delicacy" Archived 5 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine. New York Sun.
^ López de Ceballos, Eduardo (1974). Fauna de Venezuela y su conservación. Venezuela: Editorial Arte.
^ Herrera, Emilio A.; Barreto, Guillermo R. (2012). "Capybaras as a Source of Protein: Utilization and Management in Venezuela". In Moreira, J.; Ferraz, K.; Herrera, E.; Macdonald, D. (eds.). Capybara: Biology, Use and Conservation of an Exceptional Neotropical Species. Springer New York. pp. 305–320. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-4000-0_18. ISBN 978-1-4614-4000-0.
^ Romero, Simon (21 March 2007). "In Venezuela, Rodents Can Be a Delicacy". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
^ "Capybaras". Know Your Meme. July 2021.
^ ^a ^b Goñi, Uki (22 August 2021). "Attack of the giant rodents or class war? Argentina's rich riled by new neighbors". TheGuardian.com.
^ Basile, Roberta Carvalho; Yoshinari, Natalino Hajime; Mantovani, Elenice; Bonoldi, Virgínia Nazário; Macoris, Delphim da Graça; Queiroz-Neto, Antonio de (4 October 2016). "Brazilian borreliosis with special emphasis on humans and horses". Brazilian Journal of Microbiology. 48 (1): 167–172. doi:10.1016/j.bjm.2016.09.005. PMC 5220628. PMID 27769883.
^ Lopez, Sophia (1 August 2022). "Capybaras are taking over the internet". The Gauntlet. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
^ "Google Trends". Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
^ Ewe, Koh (2 November 2021). "Why Is Everyone Suddenly Obsessed With This Giant Rodent?". Vice. Retrieved 7 August 2022.

External links

Alan Taylor (29 November 2018). "Companionable Capybaras (18 Photos)". The Atlantic.
Animal Diversity Web Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Capybara information

[2] Also referred as capivara (in Brazil), capiguara (in Bolivia), chigüire, chigüiro, or fercho (in Colombia and Venezuela), carpincho (in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) and ronsoco (in Peru).

[iucn_status_19_November_2021-1] Reid, F. (2016). "Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T10300A22190005. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T10300A22190005.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.

[3] Basic Biology (2015). "Rodents".

[4] Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) Archived 2012-01-03 at the Wayback Machine. ARKive.org

[5] Ferreira, A. B. H. (1986) Novo Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa, 2nd ed., Rio de Janeiro: Nova Fronteira, p.344

[msw3-6] Woods, C.A.; Kilpatrick, C.W. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1556. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.

[inDarwin-7] Darwin, Charles R. (1839). Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle between the years 1826 and 1836, describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagle's circumnavigation of the globe. Journal and remarks. 1832–1836. London: Henry Colburn. p. 619.
In page 57, Darwin says "The largest gnawing animal in the world, the Hydrochærus Capybara (the water-hog), is here also common."

See it also in The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

[8] In page 57, Darwin says "The largest gnawing animal in the world, the Hydrochærus Capybara (the water-hog), is here also common."

[9] See it also in The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online

[r4-8] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Mones, Alvaro; Ojasti, Juhani (16 June 1986). "Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris". Mammalian Species (264): 1–7. doi:10.2307/3503784. JSTOR 3503784. S2CID 250991487.

[Rowe_2002-9] Rowe, Diane L.; Honeycutt, Rodney L. (March 2002). "Phylogenetic Relationships, Ecological Correlates, and Molecular Evolution Within the Cavioidea (Mammalia, Rodentia)". Molecular Biology and Evolution. 19 (3): 263–277. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a004080. PMID 11861886.

[Vucetich_2005-10] Vucetich, María G.; Deschamps, Cecilia M.; Olivares, Itatí; Dozo, María T. (2005). "Capybaras, size, shape, and time: A model kit". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 50 (2): 259–272.

[Deschamp_2007-11] Deschamps, Cecilia M.; Olivares, Itatí; Vieytes, Emma Carolina; Vucetich, María Guiomar (12 September 2007). "Ontogeny and diversity of the oldest capybaras (Rodentia: Hydrochoeridae; late Miocene of Argentina)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 27 (3): 683–692. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[683:oadoto]2.0.co;2. JSTOR 30126368. S2CID 86217854.

[Cerdeño_2019-12] Cerdeño, E.; Pérez, M.E.; Deschamps, C.M.; Contreras, V.H. (2019). "A new capybara from the late Miocene of San Juan Province, Argentina, and its phylogenetic implications". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 64 (1): 199–212. doi:10.4202/app.00544.2018. hdl:11336/117299.

[13] "The Cabybara – 10 Facts About the World's Largest Rodent". WorldAtlas. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2020.

[Arkive-14] Capybara Archived 2012-01-03 at the Wayback Machine, Arkive

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[18] Ferraz, Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros; Bonach, Kelly; Verdade, Luciano Martins (2005). "Relationship between body mass and body length in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)". Biota Neotropica. 5 (1): 197–200. doi:10.1590/S1676-06032005000100020.

[enchantedlearning.com-19] "Capybara Printout". Enchantedlearning.com. Retrieved 27 May 2013.

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[Quintana_1998-26] Quintana, R.D.; Monge, S.; Malvárez, A.I. (1998). "Feeding patterns of capybara Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Rodentia, Hydrochaeridae) and cattle in the non-insular area of the Lower Delta of the Paraná River, Argentina". Mammalia. 62 (1): 37–52. doi:10.1515/mamm.1998.62.1.37. S2CID 83976640.

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[SFZoo-28] Capybara. Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris. San Francisco Zoo

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[r6-32] Burton M and Burton R. (2002) The International Wildlife Encyclopedia. Marshall Cavendish, ISBN 0-7614-7269-X, p. 384

[SoundsandColours-33] Capybara, the master of the grasses: pest or prey Sounds and Colours. Retrieved on January 23, 2011.

[Alho_1987-34] Alho, Cleber J.R.; Rondon, Nelson L. (1987). "Habitats, population densities, and social structure of capybaras (Hydrochaeris Hydrochaeris, Rodentia) in the Pantanal, Brazil". Revista Brasileira de Zoologia. 4 (2): 139–149. doi:10.1590/s0101-81751987000200006.

[Macdonald_1981-35] Macdonald, D. W. (July 1981). "Dwindling resources and the social behaviour of Capybaras, (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) (Mammalia)". Journal of Zoology. 194 (3): 371–391. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1981.tb04588.x.

[Murphey_1985-36] Murphey, Robert M.; Mariano, Jorge S.; Moura Duarte, Francisco A. (May 1985). "Behavioral observations in a capybara colony (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)". Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 14 (1): 89–98. doi:10.1016/0168-1591(85)90040-1.

[Macdonald_1984-37] Macdonald, D. W.; Krantz, K.; Aplin, R. T. (March 1984). "Behavioral anatomical and chemical aspects of scent marking among Capybaras (Hydrochaeris hypdrochaeris) (Rodentia: Caviomorpha)". Journal of Zoology. 202 (3): 341–360. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1984.tb05087.x.

[Herrera_1993-38] Herrera, Emilio A.; MacDonald, David W. (1993). "Aggression, dominance, and mating success among capybara males (Hydrochaeris hypdrochaeris)". Behavioral Ecology. 4 (2): 114. doi:10.1093/beheco/4.2.114.

[r1-39] Paula, T.A.R.; Chiarini-Garcia, H.; França, L.R. (June 1999). "Seminiferous epithelium cycle and its duration in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)". Tissue and Cell. 31 (3): 327–334. doi:10.1054/tice.1999.0039. PMID 10481304.

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[SDzoo-44] "Capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris". San Diego Zoo. October 2008. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 22 June 2011.

[NYSun-45] Ellsworth, Brian (March 24, 2005). "In Days Before Easter, Venezuelans Tuck Into Rodent-Related Delicacy" Archived 5 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine. New York Sun.

[46] López de Ceballos, Eduardo (1974). Fauna de Venezuela y su conservación. Venezuela: Editorial Arte.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Short description|Species of giant rodent in the cavy family; largest rodent in the world}}
+{{Short description|Largest species of rodents}}
 {{Other uses}}
-{{pp|small=yes}}
 {{Good article}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
@@ Line 8: / Line 7: @@
 | status_system     = IUCN3.1
 | status_ref        = <ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Reid, F. |date=2016 |title=''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris'' |volume=2016 |page=e.T10300A22190005 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T10300A22190005.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}</ref>
-| image             = Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris).JPG
+| image             = Hydrochoeris hydrochaeris in Brazil in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 09.jpg
-| image_caption     = in the [[Pantanal]], Brazil
+| image_caption     = In [[Petrópolis]], Brazil
 | genus             = Hydrochoerus
 | species           = hydrochaeris
-| authority         = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], 1766)
+| authority         = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[12th edition of Systema Naturae|1766]])
 | range_map         = Capybara range.svg
 | range_map_caption = Native range
@@ Line 18: / Line 17: @@
 }}
-The '''capybara'''{{efn | Also called '''capivara''' (in Brazil), '''capiguara''' (in Bolivia), '''chigüire''', '''chigüiro''', or '''fercho''' (in Colombia and Venezuela), '''carpincho''' (in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) and '''ronsoco''' (in Peru).}} or '''greater capybara''' ('''''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris''''') is a giant [[caviidae|cavy]] [[rodent]] native to [[South America]]. It is the largest living rodent<ref>{{Cite web | author= Basic Biology | date= 2015 | title= Rodents | url= https://basicbiology.net/animal/mammals/rodents}}</ref> and a member of the genus ''[[Hydrochoerus]]''. The only other [[extant taxon|extant]] member is the [[lesser capybara]] (''Hydrochoerus isthmius''). Its close relatives include [[Cavia|guinea pig]]s and [[Kerodon|rock cavies]], and it is more distantly related to the [[agouti]], the [[chinchilla]], and the [[nutria]]. 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 live in groups of 10–20 individuals. The capybara is hunted for its meat and hide and also for grease from its thick fatty skin.<ref>[http://www.arkive.org/capybara/hydrochoerus-hydrochaeris/ Capybara (''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris'')] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103075238/http://www.arkive.org/capybara/hydrochoerus-hydrochaeris/ |date=2012-01-03 }}. ARKive.org</ref> It is not considered a threatened species.
+The '''capybara'''{{efn | Also referred as '''capivara''' (in Brazil), '''capiguara''' (in Bolivia), '''chigüire''', '''chigüiro''', or '''fercho''' (in Colombia and Venezuela), '''carpincho''' (in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) and '''ronsoco''' (in Peru).}} or '''greater capybara''' ('''''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris''''') is a giant [[caviidae|cavy]] [[rodent]] native to [[South America]]. It is the largest living rodent<ref>{{Cite web | author= Basic Biology | date= 2015 | title= Rodents | url= https://basicbiology.net/animal/mammals/rodents}}</ref> and a member of the genus ''[[Hydrochoerus]]''. The only other [[extant taxon|extant]] member is the [[lesser capybara]] (''Hydrochoerus isthmius''). Its close relatives include [[Cavia|guinea pig]]s and [[Kerodon|rock cavies]], and it is more distantly related to the [[agouti]], the [[chinchilla]], and the [[nutria]]. 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 live in groups of 10–20 individuals. The capybara is hunted for its meat and hide and also for grease from its thick fatty skin.<ref>[http://www.arkive.org/capybara/hydrochoerus-hydrochaeris/ Capybara (''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris'')] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103075238/http://www.arkive.org/capybara/hydrochoerus-hydrochaeris/ |date=2012-01-03 }}. ARKive.org</ref>
 ==Etymology==
-Its common name is derived from [[Tupi language|Tupi]] ''{{lang|tpw|ka'apiûara}}'', a complex agglutination of ''{{lang|tpw|kaá}}'' (leaf) + ''{{lang|tpw|píi}}'' (slender) + ''{{lang|tpw|ú}}'' (eat) + ''{{lang|tpw|ara}}'' (a suffix for agent nouns), meaning "one who eats slender leaves", or "grass-eater".<ref>Ferreira, A. B. H. (1986) ''[[Novo Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa]]'', 2nd ed., Rio de Janeiro: Nova Fronteira, p.344</ref> The scientific name, both ''hydrochoerus'' and ''hydrochaeris'', comes from [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] {{lang|grc|ὕδωρ}} (''{{lang|grc-Latn|hydor}}'' "water") and {{lang|grc|χοῖρος}} (''{{lang|grc-Latn|choiros}}'' "pig, hog").<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Woods|id=13400218|page=1556}}</ref><ref name="inDarwin">{{Cite book | last=Darwin | first=Charles R. | author-link =Charles Darwin| year=1839 | title=Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle between the years 1826 and 1836, describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagle's circumnavigation of the globe. Journal and remarks. 1832–1836. | title-link =The Voyage of the Beagle| place =London | publisher =[[Henry Colburn]] | page=619}}
+Its common name is derived from [[Tupi language|Tupi]] {{lang|tpn|ka'apiûara}}, a complex agglutination of {{lang|tpn|kaá}} (leaf) + {{lang|tpn|píi}} (slender) + {{lang|tpn|ú}} (eat) + {{lang|tpn|ara}} (a suffix for agent nouns), meaning "one who eats slender leaves", or "grass-eater".<ref>Ferreira, A. B. H. (1986) ''[[Novo Dicionário da Língua Portuguesa]]'', 2nd ed., Rio de Janeiro: Nova Fronteira, p.344</ref> The genus name, ''hydrochoerus'', comes from [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] {{lang|grc|ὕδωρ}} (''{{lang|grc-Latn|hydor}}'' "water") and {{lang|grc|χοῖρος}} (''{{lang|grc-Latn|choiros}}'' "pig, hog") and the species name, ''hydrochaeris'', comes from Greek {{lang|grc|ὕδωρ}} (''{{lang|grc-Latn|hydor}}'' "water") and {{lang|grc|χαίρω}} (''{{lang|grc-Latn|chairo}}'' "feel happy, enjoy").<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Woods|id=13400218|page=1556}}</ref><ref name="inDarwin">{{Cite book | last=Darwin | first=Charles R. | author-link =Charles Darwin| year=1839 | title=Narrative of the surveying voyages of His Majesty's Ships Adventure and Beagle between the years 1826 and 1836, describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagle's circumnavigation of the globe. Journal and remarks. 1832–1836. | title-link =The Voyage of the Beagle| place =London | publisher =[[Henry Colburn]] | page=619}}
 * In page 57, Darwin says "The largest gnawing animal in the world, the ''Hydrochærus Capybara'' (the water-hog), is here also common."
 * See it also in [http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=F10.3&viewtype=side&pageseq=1 The Complete Work of Charles Darwin Online]</ref>
@@ Line 28: / Line 27: @@
 The capybara and the [[lesser capybara]] both belong to the subfamily [[Hydrochoerinae]] along with the [[Kerodon|rock cavies]]. The living capybaras and their extinct relatives were previously classified in their own family Hydrochoeridae.<ref name=r4/> Since 2002, molecular phylogenetic studies have recognized a close relationship between ''Hydrochoerus'' and ''[[Kerodon]]'', the rock cavies,<ref name="Rowe 2002"/> supporting placement of both genera in a subfamily of [[Caviidae]].<ref name=msw3/>
-Paleontological classifications previously used Hydrochoeridae for all capybaras, while using Hydrochoerinae for the living genus and its closest fossil relatives, such as ''[[Neochoerus]]'',<ref name="Vucetich 2005"/><ref name="Deschamp 2007"/> but more recently have adopted the classification of Hydrochoerinae within Caviidae.<ref name="Cerdeño 2019">{{cite journal|last1=Cerdeño |first1=E. |last2=Pérez |first2=M.E. |last3=Deschamps |first3=C.M. |last4=Contreras |first4=V.H. |year=2019 |title=A new capybara from the late Miocene of San Juan Province, Argentina, and its phylogenetic implications |journal=Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |volume=64 |issue=1 |pages=199–212 |doi=10.4202/app.00544.2018|doi-access=free }}</ref>  The taxonomy of fossil hydrochoerines is also in a state of flux. In recent years, the diversity of fossil hydrochoerines has been substantially reduced.<ref name="Vucetich 2005"/><ref name="Deschamp 2007"/> This is largely due to the recognition that capybara molar teeth show strong variation in shape over the life of an individual.<ref name="Vucetich 2005"/> In one instance, material once referred to four genera and seven species on the basis of differences in molar shape is now thought to represent differently aged individuals of a single species, ''Cardiatherium paranense''.<ref name="Vucetich 2005"/>
+Paleontological classifications previously used Hydrochoeridae for all capybaras, while using Hydrochoerinae for the living genus and its closest fossil relatives, such as ''[[Neochoerus]]'',<ref name="Vucetich 2005"/><ref name="Deschamp 2007"/> but more recently have adopted the classification of Hydrochoerinae within Caviidae.<ref name="Cerdeño 2019">{{cite journal|last1=Cerdeño |first1=E. |last2=Pérez |first2=M.E. |last3=Deschamps |first3=C.M. |last4=Contreras |first4=V.H. |year=2019 |title=A new capybara from the late Miocene of San Juan Province, Argentina, and its phylogenetic implications |journal=Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |volume=64 |issue=1 |pages=199–212 |doi=10.4202/app.00544.2018|doi-access=free |hdl=11336/117299 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>  The taxonomy of fossil hydrochoerines is also in a state of flux. In recent years, the diversity of fossil hydrochoerines has been substantially reduced.<ref name="Vucetich 2005"/><ref name="Deschamp 2007"/> This is largely due to the recognition that capybara molar teeth show strong variation in shape over the life of an individual. In one instance, material once referred to four genera and seven species on the basis of differences in molar shape is now thought to represent differently aged individuals of a single species, ''Cardiatherium paranense''.<ref name="Vucetich 2005"/>
-Among fossil species, the name "capybara" can refer to the many species of Hydrochoerinae that are more closely related to the modern ''Hydrochoerus'' than to the "cardiomyine" rodents like ''Cardiomys''.<ref name="Cerdeño 2019"/>  The fossil genera ''Cardiatherium'', ''Phugatherium'', ''Hydrochoeropsis'', and ''Neochoerus'' are all capybaras under that concept.<ref name="Cerdeño 2019" />
+Among fossil species, the name "capybara" can refer to the many species of Hydrochoerinae that are more closely related to the modern ''Hydrochoerus'' than to the "cardiomyine" rodents like ''Cardiomys''. The fossil genera ''Cardiatherium'', ''Phugatherium'', ''Hydrochoeropsis'', and ''Neochoerus'' are all capybaras under that concept.<ref name="Cerdeño 2019" />
 ==Description==
@@ Line 36: / Line 35: @@
 [[File:Capybara skeleton.jpg|thumb|Capybara skeleton]]
-Adult capybaras grow to {{convert|106|to|134|cm|ft|abbr=on}} in length, stand {{convert|50|to|62|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall at the [[withers]], and typically weigh {{convert|35|to|66|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, with an average in the Venezuelan [[llanos]] of {{convert|48.9|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Arkive>[http://www.arkive.org/capybara/hydrochoerus-hydrochaeris/#text=Facts Capybara] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103075238/http://www.arkive.org/capybara/hydrochoerus-hydrochaeris/#text=Facts#text=Facts |date=2012-01-03 }}, Arkive</ref><ref name="Smithsonian"/><ref name="Palm Beach Zoo"/> Females are slightly heavier than males. The top recorded weights are {{convert|91|kg|lb|abbr=on}} for a wild female from Brazil and {{convert|73.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}} for a wild male from Uruguay.<ref name=r4/><ref name=r3/> Also, an 81&nbsp;kg individual was reported in São Paulo in 2001 or 2002.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ferraz |first1=Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros |last2=Bonach |first2=Kelly |last3=Verdade |first3=Luciano Martins |title=Relationship between body mass and body length in capybaras (''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris'') |journal=Biota Neotropica |date=2005 |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=197–200 |doi=10.1590/S1676-06032005000100020 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The [[dental formula]] is {{DentalFormula|upper=1.0.1.3|lower=1.0.1.3}}.<ref name=r4/> Capybaras have slightly [[Interdigital webbing|webbed]] feet and [[Vestigiality|vestigial]] tails.<ref name=r4/> Their hind legs are slightly longer than their forelegs; they have three toes on their rear feet and four toes on their front feet.<ref name="enchantedlearning.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/rodent/Capybaraprintout.shtml |title=Capybara Printout |publisher=Enchantedlearning.com |access-date=2013-05-27}}</ref> Their muzzles are blunt, with nostrils, and the eyes and ears are near the top of their heads.
+Adult capybaras grow to {{convert|106|to|134|cm|ft|abbr=on}} in length, stand {{convert|50|to|62|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall at the [[withers]], and typically weigh {{convert|35|to|66|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, with an average in the Venezuelan [[llanos]] of {{convert|48.9|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Arkive>[http://www.arkive.org/capybara/hydrochoerus-hydrochaeris/#text=Facts Capybara] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103075238/http://www.arkive.org/capybara/hydrochoerus-hydrochaeris/#text=Facts#text=Facts |date=2012-01-03 }}, Arkive</ref><ref name="Smithsonian"/><ref name="Palm Beach Zoo"/> Females are slightly heavier than males. The top recorded weights are {{convert|91|kg|lb|abbr=on}} for a wild female from Brazil and {{convert|73.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}} for a wild male from Uruguay.<ref name=r4/><ref name=r3/> Also, an 81&nbsp;kg individual was reported in São Paulo in 2001 or 2002.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ferraz |first1=Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros |last2=Bonach |first2=Kelly |last3=Verdade |first3=Luciano Martins |title=Relationship between body mass and body length in capybaras (''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris'') |journal=Biota Neotropica |date=2005 |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=197–200 |doi=10.1590/S1676-06032005000100020 |doi-access=free }}</ref> The [[dental formula]] is {{DentalFormula|upper=1.0.1.3|lower=1.0.1.3}}. Capybaras have slightly [[Interdigital webbing|webbed]] feet and [[Vestigiality|vestigial]] tails.<ref name=r4/> Their hind legs are slightly longer than their forelegs; they have three toes on their rear feet and four toes on their front feet.<ref name="enchantedlearning.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/rodent/Capybaraprintout.shtml |title=Capybara Printout |publisher=Enchantedlearning.com |access-date=2013-05-27}}</ref> Their muzzles are blunt, with nostrils, and the eyes and ears are near the top of their heads.
 Its [[karyotype]] has [[Diploid|2n]] = 66 and [[Fundamental number|FN]] = 102, meaning it has 66 chromosomes with a total of 102 arms.<ref name=msw3/><ref name=r4/>
@@ Line 43: / Line 42: @@
 [[File:Yellow-headed caracara (Milvago chimachima) on capybara (Hydrochoeris hydrochaeris).JPG|thumb|[[Yellow-headed caracara]] sat upon a capybara]]
 [[File:Capybara swimming.jpg|thumb|A family of capybara swimming]]
-Capybaras are [[semiaquatic]] mammals<ref name="Palm Beach Zoo"/> found throughout all countries of South America except [[Chile]].<ref name="Bristol"/> They live in densely forested areas near bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds, and marshes,<ref name="Smithsonian"/> as well as flooded savannah and along rivers in the tropical rainforest. They are superb swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes at a time. Capybara have flourished in cattle ranches.<ref name=r4/> They roam in home ranges averaging {{convert|10|ha|acre|abbr=off}} in high-density populations.<ref name=r4/>
+Capybaras are [[semiaquatic]] mammals<ref name="Palm Beach Zoo"/> found throughout all countries of South America except [[Chile]].<ref name="Bristol"/> They live in densely forested areas near bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds, and marshes,<ref name="Smithsonian"/> as well as flooded savannah and along rivers in the tropical rainforest. They are superb swimmers and can hold their breath underwater for up to five minutes at a time. Capybara have flourished in cattle ranches. They roam in home ranges averaging {{convert|10|ha|acre|abbr=off}} in high-density populations.<ref name=r4/>
-Many escapees from captivity can also be found in similar watery habitats around the world. Sightings are fairly common in [[Florida]], although a breeding population has not yet been confirmed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/mammals/capybara/|title=Nonnatives – Capybara|website=myfwc.com|access-date=2013-08-30|archive-date=2014-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406221051/http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/mammals/capybara/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2011, one specimen was spotted on the [[Central Coast (California)|Central Coast of California]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0818-capybara-20110818,0,104462.story|title=A gnawing question answered: It's a capybara roaming Paso Robles|last=Mather|first=Kate|date=18 August 2011|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=10 January 2012}}</ref> These escaped populations occur in areas where prehistoric capybaras inhabited; [[late Pleistocene]] capybaras inhabited Florida<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://bioone.org/journals/proceedings-of-the-academy-of-natural-sciences-of-philadelphia/volume-167/issue-1/053.167.0105/A-Late-Pleistocene-capybara-Rodentia-Caviidae-Hydrochoerinae-from-near-Houston/10.1635/053.167.0105.short|doi=10.1635/053.167.0105|title=A Late Pleistocene capybara (Rodentia, Caviidae, Hydrochoerinae) from near Houston, Texas, USA, with a brief review of North American fossil capybaras|year=2020|last1=Baskin|first1=Jon|last2=Gervais|first2=P. Darrow|last3=Gervais|first3=Camille J.|journal=Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia|volume=167|page=57|s2cid=216241471}}</ref> and ''[[Hydrochoerus hesperotiganites]]'' in [[California]] and ''[[Hydrochoerus gaylordi]]'' in [[Grenada]], and feral capybaras in North America may actually fill the ecological niche of the Pleistocene species.<ref>Erick J. Lundgren, Daniel Ramp, John Rowan, Owen Middleton, Simon D. Schowanek, Oscar Sanisidro, Scott P. Carroll, Matt Davis, Christopher J. Sandom, Jens-Christian Svenning, Arian D. Wallach, James A. Estes, 2020, ''[https://www.pnas.org/content/117/14/7871 Introduced herbivores restore Late Pleistocene ecological functions]'', PNAS, 117 (14), pp.7871-7878, [[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America]]</ref>
+Many escapees from captivity can also be found in similar watery habitats around the world. Sightings are fairly common in [[Florida]], although a breeding population has not yet been confirmed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/mammals/capybara/|title=Nonnatives – Capybara|website=myfwc.com|access-date=2013-08-30|archive-date=2014-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406221051/http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/mammals/capybara/}}</ref> In 2011, one specimen was spotted on the [[Central Coast (California)|Central Coast of California]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0818-capybara-20110818,0,104462.story|title=A gnawing question answered: It's a capybara roaming Paso Robles|last=Mather|first=Kate|date=18 August 2011|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=10 January 2012}}</ref> These escaped populations occur in areas where prehistoric capybaras inhabited; [[late Pleistocene]] capybaras inhabited Florida<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://bioone.org/journals/proceedings-of-the-academy-of-natural-sciences-of-philadelphia/volume-167/issue-1/053.167.0105/A-Late-Pleistocene-capybara-Rodentia-Caviidae-Hydrochoerinae-from-near-Houston/10.1635/053.167.0105.short|doi=10.1635/053.167.0105|title=A Late Pleistocene capybara (Rodentia, Caviidae, Hydrochoerinae) from near Houston, Texas, USA, with a brief review of North American fossil capybaras|year=2020|last1=Baskin|first1=Jon|last2=Gervais|first2=P. Darrow|last3=Gervais|first3=Camille J.|journal=Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia|volume=167|page=57|s2cid=216241471}}</ref> and ''[[Hydrochoerus hesperotiganites]]'' in [[California]] and ''[[Hydrochoerus gaylordi]]'' in [[Grenada]], and feral capybaras in North America may actually fill the ecological niche of the Pleistocene species.<ref>Erick J. Lundgren, Daniel Ramp, John Rowan, Owen Middleton, Simon D. Schowanek, Oscar Sanisidro, Scott P. Carroll, Matt Davis, Christopher J. Sandom, Jens-Christian Svenning, Arian D. Wallach, James A. Estes, 2020, ''[https://www.pnas.org/content/117/14/7871 Introduced herbivores restore Late Pleistocene ecological functions]'', PNAS, 117 (14), pp.7871-7878, [[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America]]</ref>
 ===Diet and predation===
 [[File:Capybara Eating Hay 11 11 2018.jpg|thumb|left|A capybara eating hay at [[Franklin Park Zoo]], Boston, Massachusetts]]
-Capybaras are [[herbivore]]s, grazing mainly on grasses and [[aquatic plants]],<ref name="Smithsonian"/><ref name="RevBiolTrop"/> as well as fruit and tree bark.<ref name="Palm Beach Zoo"/> They are very selective feeders<ref name="Quintana 1998"/> and feed on the leaves of one species and disregard other species surrounding it. They eat a greater variety of plants during the dry season, as fewer plants are available. While they eat grass during the wet season, they have to switch to more abundant reeds during the dry season.<ref name="Barreto 1998"/> Plants that capybaras eat during the summer lose their nutritional value in the winter, so they are not consumed at that time.<ref name="Quintana 1998"/> The capybara's jaw hinge is not perpendicular, so they chew food by grinding back-and-forth rather than side-to-side.<ref name="SFZoo"/> Capybaras are [[coprophagous|autocoprophagous]],<ref name="taronga-zoo"/> meaning they eat their own feces as a source of bacterial [[gut flora]], to help digest the [[cellulose]] in the grass that forms their normal diet, and to extract the maximum protein and vitamins from their food. They also regurgitate food to masticate again, similar to cud-chewing by cattle.<ref name="taronga-zoo">{{cite web |title=Meet Taronga's Capybaras |url=https://taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo/must-see/capybaras |website=Taronga Zoo |access-date=29 December 2021 |ref=taronga-zoo}}</ref><ref name="Lord-Rexford 1994"/> As is the case with other rodents, the front teeth of capybaras grow continually to compensate for the constant wear from eating grasses;<ref name="Bristol"/> their cheek teeth also grow continuously.<ref name="SFZoo"/> [[File:Cattle tyrant (Machetornis rixosa) on Capybara.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cattle tyrant]] on a capybara]]
+Capybaras are [[herbivore]]s, grazing mainly on grasses and [[aquatic plants]],<ref name="Smithsonian"/><ref name="RevBiolTrop"/> as well as fruit and tree bark.<ref name="Palm Beach Zoo"/> They are very selective feeders<ref name="Quintana 1998"/> and feed on the leaves of one species and disregard other species surrounding it. They eat a greater variety of plants during the dry season, as fewer plants are available. While they eat grass during the wet season, they have to switch to more abundant reeds during the dry season.<ref name="Barreto 1998"/> Plants that capybaras eat during the summer lose their nutritional value in the winter, so they are not consumed at that time.<ref name="Quintana 1998"/> The capybara's jaw hinge is not perpendicular, so they chew food by grinding back-and-forth rather than side-to-side.<ref name="SFZoo"/> Capybaras are [[coprophagous|autocoprophagous]],<ref name="taronga-zoo"/> meaning they eat their own feces as a source of bacterial [[gut flora]], to help digest the [[cellulose]] in the grass that forms their normal diet, and to extract the maximum protein and vitamins from their food. They also regurgitate food to masticate again, similar to cud-chewing by cattle.<ref name="taronga-zoo">{{cite web |title=Meet Taronga's Capybaras |url=https://taronga.org.au/sydney-zoo/must-see/capybaras |website=Taronga Zoo |access-date=29 December 2021 |ref=taronga-zoo}}</ref><ref name="Lord-Rexford 1994"/> Like other rodents, a capybara's front teeth grow continually to compensate for the constant wear from eating grasses;<ref name="Bristol"/> their cheek teeth also grow continuously.<ref name="SFZoo"/> [[File:Cattle tyrant (Machetornis rixosa) on Capybara.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cattle tyrant]] on a capybara]]
 Like its relative the guinea pig, the capybara does not have the capacity to synthesize [[vitamin C]], and capybaras not supplemented with vitamin C in captivity have been reported to develop [[Periodontal disease|gum disease]] as a sign of [[scurvy]].<ref name=r2/>
-They can have a lifespan of 8–10 years,<ref name=r6/> but tend to live less than four years in the wild due to predation from  [[big cats]] like the [[South American jaguar|jaguars]] and [[South American cougar|pumas]] and non-mammalian predators like [[eagle]]s and the [[caiman]]s.<ref name="Bristol"/> The capybara is also the preferred prey of the [[Eunectes murinus|green anaconda]].<ref name="SoundsandColours"/>
+The maximum lifespan of the capybara is 8 to 10 years,<ref name=r6/> but in the wild capybaras usually do not live longer than four years because of predation from South American [[big cats]] such as [[South American jaguar|jaguars]] and [[South American cougar|pumas]] and from non-mammalian predators such as [[eagle]]s, [[caiman]]s, and [[Eunectes murinus|green anaconda]]s.<ref name="Bristol"/><ref name="SoundsandColours"/>
 ==Social organization==
-[[File:Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) alpha male.JPG|thumb|right|Capybaras have a scent gland on their noses.]]
+[[File:Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) alpha male.JPG|thumb|right|Capybaras have a scent gland on their noses]]
 Capybaras are known to be [[gregarious]]. While they sometimes live solitarily, they are more commonly found in groups of around 10–20 individuals, with two to four adult males, four to seven adult females, and the remainder juveniles.<ref name="Alho 1987"/> Capybara groups can consist of as many as 50 or 100 individuals during the dry season<ref name="Lord-Rexford 1994"/><ref name="Macdonald 1981"/> when the animals gather around available water sources. Males establish social bonds, dominance, or general group consensus.<ref name="Macdonald 1981"/> They can make dog-like barks<ref name="Lord-Rexford 1994"/> when threatened or when females are herding young.<ref name="Murphey 1985"/>
-Capybaras have two types of [[scent gland]]s: a morrillo, located on the snout, and [[anal gland]]s.<ref name="Macdonald 1984"/> Both sexes have these glands, but males have much larger morrillos and use their anal glands more frequently. The anal glands of males are also lined with detachable hairs. A crystalline form of scent secretion is coated on these hairs and is released when in contact with objects such as plants. These hairs have a longer-lasting scent mark and are tasted by other capybaras. Capybaras scent-mark by rubbing their morrillos on objects, or by walking over scrub and marking it with their anal glands. Capybaras can spread their scent further by urinating; however, females usually mark without urinating and scent-mark less frequently than males overall. Females mark more often during the wet season when they are in [[estrus]]. In addition to objects, males also scent-mark females.<ref name="Macdonald 1984"/>
+Capybaras have two types of [[scent gland]]s: a morrillo, located on the snout, and [[anal gland]]s. Both sexes have these glands, but males have much larger morrillos and use their anal glands more frequently. The anal glands of males are also lined with detachable hairs. A crystalline form of scent secretion is coated on these hairs and is released when in contact with objects such as plants. These hairs have a longer-lasting scent mark and are tasted by other capybaras. Capybaras scent-mark by rubbing their morrillos on objects, or by walking over scrub and marking it with their anal glands. Capybaras can spread their scent further by urinating; however, females usually mark without urinating and scent-mark less frequently than males overall. Females mark more often during the wet season when they are in [[estrus]]. In addition to objects, males also scent-mark females.<ref name="Macdonald 1984"/>
 ===Reproduction===
 [[File:Young capybaras.jpg|thumb|right|Mother with typical litter of about four pups]]
 [[File:Capybara mother with pups.jpg|thumb|left|Capybara mother with her pups]]
+[[File:Capybaras - Wasserschweine.webm|thumb|Free-living capybaras in the southern Pantanal, MS, Brazil]]
-When in [[estrus]], the female's scent changes subtly and nearby males begin pursuit.<ref name="Herrera 1993">{{cite journal|doi=10.1093/beheco/4.2.114|title= Aggression, dominance, and mating success among capybara males (''Hydrochaeris hypdrochaeris'')|year=1993|last1=Herrera|first1=Emilio A.|last2=MacDonald|first2=David W.|journal=[[Behavioral Ecology (journal)|Behavioral Ecology]]|volume=4|issue=2|page=114}}</ref> In addition, a female alerts males she is in estrus by whistling through her nose.<ref name="Lord-Rexford 1994"/> During mating, the female has the advantage and mating choice. Capybaras mate only in water, and if a female does not want to mate with a certain male, she either submerges or leaves the water.<ref name="Lord-Rexford 1994"/><ref name="Macdonald 1981"/> Dominant males are highly protective of the females, but they usually cannot prevent some of the subordinates from copulating.<ref name="Herrera 1993"/> The larger the group, the harder it is for the male to watch all the females. Dominant males secure significantly more matings than each subordinate, but subordinate males, as a class, are responsible for more matings than each dominant male.<ref name="Herrera 1993"/> The lifespan of the capybara's sperm is longer than that of other rodents.<ref name=r1/>
+When in [[estrus]], the female's scent changes subtly and nearby males begin pursuit.<ref name="Herrera 1993">{{cite journal|doi=10.1093/beheco/4.2.114|title= Aggression, dominance, and mating success among capybara males (''Hydrochaeris hypdrochaeris'')|year=1993|last1=Herrera|first1=Emilio A.|last2=MacDonald|first2=David W.|journal=[[Behavioral Ecology (journal)|Behavioral Ecology]]|volume=4|issue=2|page=114}}</ref> In addition, a female alerts males she is in estrus by whistling through her nose.<ref name="Lord-Rexford 1994"/> During mating, the female has the advantage and mating choice. Capybaras mate only in water, and if a female does not want to mate with a certain male, she either submerges or leaves the water.<ref name="Lord-Rexford 1994"/><ref name="Macdonald 1981"/> Dominant males are highly protective of the females, but they usually cannot prevent some of the subordinates from copulating. The larger the group, the harder it is for the male to watch all the females. Dominant males secure significantly more matings than each subordinate, but subordinate males, as a class, are responsible for more matings than each dominant male.<ref name="Herrera 1993"/> The lifespan of the capybara's sperm is longer than that of other rodents.<ref name=r1/>
 [[File:Capivara(Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris).jpg|thumb|left|Mother and three pups]]
 Capybara [[gestation]] is 130–150 days, and produces a litter of four young on average, but may produce between one and eight in a single litter.<ref name=r4/> Birth is on land and the female rejoins the group within a few hours of delivering the newborn capybaras, which join the group as soon as they are mobile. Within a week, the young can eat grass, but continue to suckle—from any female in the group—until weaned around 16 weeks. The young form a group within the main group.<ref name="Bristol"/> [[Alloparenting]] has been observed in this species.<ref name="Macdonald 1981"/> Breeding peaks between April and May in Venezuela and between October and November in [[Mato Grosso]], Brazil.<ref name=r4/>
@@ Line 72: / Line 72: @@
 ===Activities===
 Though quite agile on land, capybaras are equally at home in the water. They are excellent swimmers, and can remain completely submerged for up to five minutes,<ref name="Smithsonian"/> an ability they use to evade predators. Capybaras can sleep in water, keeping only their noses out. As temperatures increase during the day, they wallow in water and then graze during the late afternoon and early evening.<ref name=r4/> They also spend time wallowing in mud.<ref name="enchantedlearning.com"/> They rest around midnight and then continue to graze before dawn.<ref name="r4" />
+===Communication===
+Capybaras communicate using barks, chirps, whistles, huffs, and purrs.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/animals/capybara | title=Capybara }}</ref>
 [[File:Capybara Ueno Zoo 2009.ogv|thumb|A capybara in captivity, 2009]]
 ==Conservation and human interaction==
 Capybaras are not considered a threatened species;<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> their population is stable throughout most of their South American range, though in some areas hunting has reduced their numbers.<ref name="Smithsonian"/><ref name="Bristol"/> Capybaras are hunted for their meat and pelts in some areas,<ref name="inRich" /> and otherwise killed by humans who see their grazing as competition for livestock. In some areas, they are farmed, which has the effect of ensuring the wetland habitats are protected. Their survival is aided by their ability to breed rapidly.<ref name="Bristol" />
@@ Line 82: / Line 84: @@
 Capybaras are farmed for meat and skins in South America.<ref name="SDzoo"/> The meat is considered unsuitable to eat in some areas, while in other areas it is considered an important source of protein.<ref name=r4/> In parts of South America, especially in Venezuela, capybara meat is popular during [[Lent]] and [[Holy Week]] as the Catholic Church previously issued special dispensation to allow it to be eaten while other meats are [[Fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church|generally forbidden]].<ref name="NYSun"/>
 After several attempts a 1784 [[Papal bull]] was obtained that allowed the consumption of capybara during Lent.<ref>{{cite book |last1=López de Ceballos |first1=Eduardo |title=Fauna de Venezuela y su conservación. |date=1974 |publisher=Editorial Arte. |location=Venezuela}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Herrera |first1=Emilio A. |last2=Barreto |first2=Guillermo R. |chapter=Capybaras as a Source of Protein: Utilization and Management in Venezuela |editor1-last=Moreira |editor1-first=J. |editor2-last=Ferraz |editor2-first=K. |editor3-last=Herrera |editor3-first=E. |editor4-last=Macdonald |editor4-first=D. |title=Capybara: Biology, Use and Conservation of an Exceptional Neotropical Species |date=2012 |publisher=Springer New York | doi=10.1007/978-1-4614-4000-0_18| isbn=978-1-4614-4000-0 |pages=305–320 }}</ref> There is widespread perception in Venezuela that consumption of capybaras is exclusive to rural people.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Romero|first=Simon|date=2007-03-21|title=In Venezuela, Rodents Can Be a Delicacy|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/21/world/americas/21rodent.html|access-date=2021-04-27|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
+[[File:Capybara-orange.gif|thumb|Capybara in pool]]
-Although it is illegal in some states,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capybarafacts.com/Capybara-as-Pets/ | title=Capybaras as Pets| publisher=capybarafacts.com|access-date=2014-10-23}}</ref> capybaras are occasionally kept as pets in the United States.<ref name="perez_snake">{{cite book|last=Perez|first=Larry|title=Snake in the Grass: an Everglades Invasion|year=2012|publisher=[[Pineapple Press]]|location=Sarasota, Fla.|isbn=9781561645138|page=89|edition=1st}}</ref>{{efn | It is illegal to own a capybara in [[Alaska]], [[California]], [[Colorado]], [[Connecticut]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Illinois]], [[Massachusetts]], [[New York (state)|New York]], [[Oregon]], and [[Vermont]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Pet Capybara Legal States 2023|url= https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/pet-capybara-legal-states|access-date=February 11, 2023}}</ref>}} The image of a capybara features on the [[Uruguayan peso|2-peso]] coin of Uruguay.<ref>{{cite web|title=2 Pesos Uruguayos de 2014|url=http://www.monedasuruguay.com/mon/2014/182.htm|publisher=Monedas Uruguay|access-date=8 June 2016|language=es|archive-date=7 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007121344/http://www.monedasuruguay.com/mon/2014/182.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In [[Japan]], following the lead of [[Izu Shaboten Zoo]] in 1982,<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298123-d1196864-Reviews-Izu_Shaboten_Animal_Park-Ito_Shizuoka_Prefecture_Chubu.html|title=Izu Shaboten Animal Park (Ito) – 2018 All You Need to Know Before You Go (with Photos) – TripAdvisor|website=www.tripadvisor.com}}</ref> multiple establishments or zoos in Japan that raise capybaras have adopted the practice of having them relax in [[onsen]] during the winter. They are seen as an attraction by Japanese people.<ref name=":0" /> Capybaras became big in Japan due to the popular cartoon character {{lang|ja-Latn|Kapibara-san|italic=no}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://animalcafes.com/news/capy.html|title = Capybaras are big in Japan}}</ref>
 In August 2021, Argentine and international media reported that capybaras had been causing serious problems for residents of [[Nordelta]], an affluent gated community north of [[Buenos Aires]] built atop wetland habitat. This inspired social media users to jokingly adopt the capybara as a symbol of [[class struggle]] and [[communism]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Capybaras |url=https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/capybaras |website=[[Know Your Meme]]|date=July 2021 }}</ref><ref name="TheGuardian_20210822">{{cite web|title=Attack of the giant rodents or class war? Argentina's rich riled by new neighbors|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=22 August 2021 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/22/argentina-capybaras-giant-rodents-gated-community |last=Goñi |first=Uki}}</ref> Brazilian Lyme-like [[borreliosis]] likely involves capybaras as reservoirs and ''[[Amblyomma]]'' and ''[[Rhipicephalus]]'' ticks as vectors.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Basile |first1=Roberta Carvalho |last2=Yoshinari |first2=Natalino Hajime |last3=Mantovani |first3=Elenice |last4=Bonoldi |first4=Virgínia Nazário |last5=Macoris |first5=Delphim da Graça |last6=Queiroz-Neto |first6=Antonio de |title=Brazilian borreliosis with special emphasis on humans and horses |journal=Brazilian Journal of Microbiology |date=4 October 2016 |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=167–172 |doi=10.1016/j.bjm.2016.09.005 |pmid=27769883 |pmc=5220628 }}</ref>
 == Popularity and meme culture ==
-In the early 2020s, capybaras became a growing figure of [[Internet meme|meme culture]] due to many factors, including the disturbances in Nordelta<ref name=TheGuardian_20210822 /> which led to them being comically postulated as figures of class struggle. Also, a common meme format includes capybaras in various situations with the song "[[After Party (song)|After Party]]" by [[Don Toliver]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Sophia |date=2022-08-01 |title=Capybaras are taking over the internet |url=https://thegauntlet.ca/2022/08/01/capybaras-are-taking-over-the-internet/ |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=The Gauntlet |language=en-US}}</ref> leading to a tremendous growth in popularity.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=Capybara | title=Google Trends | access-date=30 July 2022 | archive-date=25 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925135859/https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=Capybara | url-status=dead }}</ref> Due to a lyric in Toliver's song, capybaras are also associated with the phrase "Ok I pull up".<ref>{{cite web|last=Ewe|first=Koh|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/93b5zd/photos-capybara-giant-rodent-cute-memes|title=Why Is Everyone Suddenly Obsessed With This Giant Rodent?|work=[[Vice (website)|Vice]]|date=November 2, 2021|accessdate=August 7, 2022}}</ref>
+In the early 2020s, capybaras became a growing figure of [[Internet meme|meme culture]] due to many factors, including the disturbances in Nordelta<ref name=TheGuardian_20210822 /> which led to them being comically postulated as figures of class struggle. Also, a common meme format includes capybaras in various situations with the song "[[After Party (song)|After Party]]" by [[Don Toliver]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Sophia |date=2022-08-01 |title=Capybaras are taking over the internet |url=https://thegauntlet.ca/2022/08/01/capybaras-are-taking-over-the-internet/ |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=The Gauntlet |language=en-US}}</ref> leading to a tremendous growth in popularity.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=Capybara | title=Google Trends | access-date=30 July 2022 | archive-date=25 September 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925135859/https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=today%205-y&q=Capybara }}</ref> Capybaras are also associated with the phrase "Ok I pull up", the opening lyric in Toliver's song.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ewe|first=Koh|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/93b5zd/photos-capybara-giant-rodent-cute-memes|title=Why Is Everyone Suddenly Obsessed With This Giant Rodent?|work=[[Vice (website)|Vice]]|date=November 2, 2021|access-date=August 7, 2022}}</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 108: / Line 109: @@
 <ref name="SoundsandColours">[http://soundsandcolours.com/subjects/south-american-nature/capybara-the-master-of-the-grasses-pest-or-prey-3937/ Capybara, the master of the grasses: pest or prey]  Sounds and Colours. Retrieved on January 23, 2011.</ref>
 <ref name="SFZoo">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070614005832/http://www.sfzoo.org/cgi-bin/animals.py?ID=90 Capybara. ''Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris'']. San Francisco Zoo</ref>
-<ref name="SDzoo">{{cite web  | date = October 2008  | publisher = San Diego Zoo  | title = Capybara, ''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris''  | url = http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/capybara/capybara.htm  | access-date = 22 June 2011  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110930051431/http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/capybara/capybara.htm  | archive-date = 30 September 2011  | url-status = dead  | df = dmy-all  }}</ref>
+<ref name="SDzoo">{{cite web  | date = October 2008  | publisher = San Diego Zoo  | title = Capybara, ''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris''  | url = http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/capybara/capybara.htm  | access-date = 22 June 2011  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110930051431/http://library.sandiegozoo.org/factsheets/capybara/capybara.htm  | archive-date = 30 September 2011  | df = dmy-all  }}</ref>
 <ref name="Alho 1987">{{cite journal |last1=Alho |first1=Cleber J.R. |last2=Rondon |first2=Nelson L. |title=Habitats, population densities, and social structure of capybaras (''Hydrochaeris Hydrochaeris'', Rodentia) in the Pantanal, Brazil |journal=[[Revista Brasileira de Zoologia]] |date=1987 |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=139–149 |doi=10.1590/s0101-81751987000200006 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
-<ref name="Lord-Rexford 1994">{{cite journal |last1=Lord |first1=Rexford D. |title=A descriptive account of capybara behaviour |journal=Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment |date=March 1994 |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=11–22 |doi=10.1080/01650529409360912 }}</ref>
+<ref name="Lord-Rexford 1994">{{cite journal |last1=Lord |first1=Rexford D. |title=A descriptive account of capybara behaviour |journal=Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment |date=March 1994 |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=11–22 |doi=10.1080/01650529409360912 |bibcode=1994SNFE...29...11L }}</ref>
 <ref name="Macdonald 1981">{{cite journal |last1=Macdonald |first1=D. W. |title=Dwindling resources and the social behaviour of Capybaras, (''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris'') (Mammalia) |journal=Journal of Zoology |date=July 1981 |volume=194 |issue=3 |pages=371–391 |doi=10.1111/j.1469-7998.1981.tb04588.x }}</ref>
 <ref name="Murphey 1985">{{cite journal |last1=Murphey |first1=Robert M. |last2=Mariano |first2=Jorge S. |last3=Moura Duarte |first3=Francisco A. |title=Behavioral observations in a capybara colony (''Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris'') |journal=Applied Animal Behaviour Science |date=May 1985 |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=89–98 |doi=10.1016/0168-1591(85)90040-1 }}</ref>
 <ref name=r1>{{cite journal |last1=Paula |first1=T.A.R. |last2=Chiarini-Garcia |first2=H. |last3=França |first3=L.R. |title=Seminiferous epithelium cycle and its duration in capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) |journal=Tissue and Cell |date=June 1999 |volume=31 |issue=3 |pages=327–334 |doi=10.1054/tice.1999.0039 |pmid=10481304 }}</ref>
-<ref name=r2>{{cite journal |last1=Cueto |first1=Gerardo Ruben |last2=Allekotte |first2=Roman |last3=Kravetz |first3=Fernando Osvaldo |title=Scurvy in capybaras bred in captivity in Argentine |journal=Journal of Wildlife Diseases |date=January 2000 |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=97–101 |doi=10.7589/0090-3558-36.1.97 |pmid=10682750 |s2cid=6491859 }}</ref>
+<ref name=r2>{{cite journal |last1=Cueto |first1=Gerardo Ruben |last2=Allekotte |first2=Roman |last3=Kravetz |first3=Fernando Osvaldo |title=Scurvy in capybaras bred in captivity in Argentine |journal=Journal of Wildlife Diseases |date=January 2000 |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=97–101 |doi=10.7589/0090-3558-36.1.97 |pmid=10682750 |s2cid=6491859 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
 <ref name=r3>[http://www.waza.org/virtualzoo/factsheet.php?id=110-020-001-001&view=Rodents%20and%20Hares&main=virtualzoo World Association of Zoos and Aquariums]. [[World Association of Zoos and Aquariums|WAZA]]. Retrieved on 2011-12-07.</ref>
 <ref name=r4>{{cite journal |last1=Mones |first1=Alvaro |last2=Ojasti |first2=Juhani |title=Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris |journal=Mammalian Species |date=16 June 1986 |issue=264 |pages=1–7 |doi=10.2307/3503784 |jstor=3503784 |s2cid=250991487 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
@@ Line 144: / Line 145: @@
 [[Category:Mammals of Argentina]]
 [[Category:Mammals of Bolivia]]
-[[Category:Mammals of Brazil]]
+[[Category:Rodents of Brazil]]
 [[Category:Mammals of Colombia]]
 [[Category:Mammals of Ecuador]]
@@ Line 155: / Line 156: @@
 [[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
 [[Category:Semiaquatic mammals]]
-[[Category:Rodents of South America]]
 [[Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus]]
 [[Category:2020s in Internet culture]]

Taxon identifiers
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris	Wikidata: Q131538 Wikispecies: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris ADW: Hydrochoerus_hydrochaeris BioLib: 37031 BOLD: 73385 CoL: 6MK7J EoL: 326517 EPPO: HYUSHY GBIF: 5786666 iNaturalist: 74442 IRMNG: 10223073 ISC: 114852 ITIS: 825303 IUCN: 10300 MDD: 1001209 MSW: 13400218 NAS: 2587 NCBI: 10149 Observation.org: 200689 Open Tree of Life: 744018 Paleobiology Database: 128740
Sus hydrochaeris	Wikidata: Q28545647 GBIF: 7475476