Stats

Lifespan: 8-12 yrs
Size: Huge
Diet: Herbivore
Activity: Crepuscular
Social: Herd
Biome: Freshwater wetland
Range: South America
Movement: Walking
Breeding: Live Birth
Defense: Herd Safety
Status: Uncommon

About

The world's largest living rodent, a barrel-shaped, semi-aquatic grazer of South American wetlands. Its eyes, ears, and nostrils sit high on its head so it can stay almost entirely submerged while watching for predators.

Life cycle

1.
newborn pup
A blind, hairless pup nurses in the nest and is unable to regulate its own warmth.
2.
juvenile
A weaned juvenile is fully furred, leaves the nest, and begins foraging on solid food.
3.
adult
Fully grown and self-sufficient.

Learn more

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Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Caviidae
Genus: Hydrochoerus
Species: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris