Species · GBIF taxon 5786667
Lesser Capybara
Hydrochoerus isthmiusAlso known as Panamanian Capybara
Lesser capybaras are highly social, semi-aquatic rodents that live in small family groups along the rivers, swamps, and marshes of Panama and northwestern South America. They spend their days wallowing in water or thick mud to regulate their body temperature and protect their skin from the tropical sun. When startled, these agile swimmers emit sharp, bark-like alarm calls before plunging underwater to escape.
Semi-aquaticSocialCrepuscular
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Data DeficientConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXData Deficient — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Herbivorous, feeding on aquatic plants, grasses, and soft tree bark
Predators
- Spectacled Caiman
- Jaguar
- Green Anaconda
ThreatsHabitat destruction, water pollution, and subsistence hunting
HabitatsTropical wetlands, rivers, swamps, and seasonally flooded savannas
Life span8 to 10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCaviidae
- SpeciesHydrochoerus isthmius
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Capable of delivering a powerful bite with sharp incisors if cornered; observe from a safe distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Possesses long, continuously growing incisors capable of inflicting deep puncture wounds if the animal feels threatened or cornered.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a stocky, brown, tailless rodent about the size of a medium dog, often found near water.
- What to do
- Never attempt to pet, feed, or corner wild individuals; back away slowly if they begin to bark or retreat.
Responsible observation
- Watch from afar: Use binoculars to observe their natural behaviors without causing them to retreat into the water.
- Listen for barks: Pay attention to their distinct, dog-like alarm barks, which signal that you are too close.
- Look in the mud: Search for their large, partially webbed footprints along muddy riverbanks during early morning hours.
Predator (c) gailhampshire, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Predator MKAMPIS / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative "Capybara" by lorentey is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Close Relative
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