# Capybara

By [Bilan](https://paragraph.com/@bilan-2) · 2023-06-28

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The **capybara**[\[a\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara#cite_note-2) or **greater capybara** (**_Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris_**) is a giant [cavy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caviidae) [rodent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodent) native to [South America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America). It is the largest living rodent[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara#cite_note-3) and a member of the genus [_Hydrochoerus_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrochoerus). The only other [extant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extant_taxon) member is the [lesser capybara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_capybara) (_Hydrochoerus isthmius_). Its close relatives include [guinea pigs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea_pig) and [rock cavies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_cavy), and it is more distantly related to the [agouti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agouti), the [chinchilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinchilla), and the [nutria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capybara#cite_note-4) It is not considered a threatened species.

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*Originally published on [Bilan](https://paragraph.com/@bilan-2/capybara)*