Overview
Capybara appears on the Exotic Wildlife Association species list as Capybara — ESA: Not Listed; CITES: N/A. [1]
Native range
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris is a strictly South American rodent species. Its range extends throughout most of Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Columbia, south into the Argentinian pampas, and west to the Andes. [2]
Size
35–66 kg (ADW range). [2]
Lifespan
10 years (wild, range); 6 years (wild, average); 12 years (captivity, range). [2]
Breeding & gestation
Gestation average 150 days; offspring per birth: 2–8; females mature at 18 months. [2]
Temperament & social structure
Not verified from a primary source for this page.
Habitat needs
Capybaras are found only in areas where water is easily accessible: flooded grasslands are a favored habitat, as are marsh edges and lowland forests where grazing is good and there is water year-round. ADW biomes: savanna or grassland, forest, rainforest, scrub forest. [2]
Where they thrive (Texas / US)
Not verified from a primary source for this page.
Space per animal
No verified species-specific space figure was found; follow zoo/keeper enclosure guidance and consult an exotic-animal veterinarian.
Housing & shelter
Not verified from a primary source for this page.
Fencing
No primary-source containment standard was verified for this species; get enclosure design advice from an experienced keeper or zoo veterinarian.
Natural diet
Capybaras are grazers, feeding mainly on grasses and aquatic plants. Bark and fruit are consumed occasionally. ADW diet type: herbivore, folivore, lignivore, coprophage. [2]
Feed & supplementation
No verified diet formulation was found for this page; follow a veterinarian or zoo nutritionist.
Common health issues & parasites
No verified species-specific health list for this page; consult an exotic-animal veterinarian.
Vet care & vaccination
No vaccines are labeled for this species in the US; set any protocol with an exotic-animal veterinarian. (No specific protocol was verified for this page.)
Handling & capture
Capture/restraint protocol not verified for this species; have an experienced exotic-animal veterinarian plan any capture or transport.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. [3]
Legal notes (general info, not legal advice)
General information, not legal advice. USDA APHIS licensing under the Animal Welfare Act applies to dealers and exhibitors; check USDA and your state wildlife and animal-health agencies before buying, moving or selling. [4]
Sources
- Exotic Wildlife Association – Endangered Species List (ESA status & CITES appendix)
- Animal Diversity Web (Univ. of Michigan) – Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
- IUCN Red List – Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (assessment page)
- USDA APHIS – Animal Welfare Act licensing & registration
Figures are taken from the numbered sources; items marked "not verified" could not be confirmed from a primary source and are intentionally left blank. Husbandry guidance is general—confirm with an exotic-animal veterinarian.