Page 22 - World of Animals - Issue #41

Capybara

Master of the grasses

The capybaras’ body and teeth are adapted for vegetation

Capybara may sound like an unusual By selectively feeding on grass and Indeed, these huge rodents are well
name, but it means “master of the other waterside vegetation, capybara adapted to their diet. They have two long,
grasses”, and is derived from the are able to pick out the most nutritious sharp incisors, which constantly grow
word kapiÿva in Guarani, which is the food preserved by the water. But, unlike to counter the effects of eating teeth-
language of indigenous populations competing cattle, they will head for wearing grasses (they have to be kept
in South America. The name refers to very short and dry grasses at the end of at the right size by gnawing on bark). Capybaras prefer
to spend the
the animal's penchant for munching on the dry season too. This ensures more Capybaras also have large molars, which hottest part of the
grassy patches and bushy scrubs, so it’s supplies for the capybaras, and it's a are used to grind tough plant stems, and day in water or
a very appropriate moniker for these reason why they not only survive in their as their jaw hinge is non-perpendicular, wallowing in
the shade
supereffi cient grazers. seasonal habitat, but thrive within it. they incessantly chew back and forth.

Did you
know?

Like rabbits, capybaras eat their
own faeces. Although bacteria in
their intestines breaks down cellulose,
it takes place next to the colon, so
most of the created sugar passes
out. By eating their droppings,
capybaras have a second
go at digesting it.

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