Capybara

Evolution:

Subspecies: Lesser Capybara

How long have they been here?:

Around 40-80 million years

Closest Living Relative: Guinea Pigs

Ancestors:

Cavimorphs are the only known ancestors of the modern capybara. They arrived in South America from Africa, until the first capybara was recorded in Argentina 9 million years ago.

Habitat: 

Rainfall: 2.3 m of rain annually (7.5 ft.)

Plants: Reeds, Grains, Melons, Squashes, Grass, and Water Plants (switchgrass, crownass, sedges, bermuda grass).

Animals: Rodents, Deer, Rabbits, Kinkajous, Bats, Otters, Jaguar, Ocelot, Oncilla

Temperature: 90-100 F

Terrain: Savannas, Rain Forests, Rivers, Ponds, Lakes; places with dense vegetation. 

Distribution:

Continents Found In:

Northern and Central South America

Invasiveness: Not at all

Development: 

Stages of Development: Infants, Juvenile, Subadult, Adult

Age Before Sexual Maturity: Females: 7-12 months

Males: 15-24 months

Activities and Environment of Stages: They stay in the same space all their lives, only moving into water when there is danger.

Differences between Males and Females: Males have a visible scent gland on their heads, while females are a little bit bigger than the males.

ICUN Rating:

Rating: Least Concern

Population: 500,000

Population Trend: Increasing

Social Structures: 

Packs or Solo: They don't mind being alone, but they can live in groups up to 40.

Roles in Community: Provide value for the ecosystem as part of the food chains, converting vegetative matter into forms consumed by predators.

Male or Female Led: Male

What Make up the Group: A dominant adult male, one or more adult females, one or more subordinate males, and several young.

How They Interact With Each Other: They communicate with one another through barks, chirps, whistles and purrs. They use scent glands to mark their territory and communicate.