Page 23 - World of Animals - Issue #41

The world’s largest rodent

Young capybaras
will use noise to
indicate to their
mother that they
are around

They bark when alarmed
Capybaras have a diverse vocal repertoire
As social animals, capybaras live in family groups of
between ten to 20 individuals, with each unit made up
of twice as many adult males as adult females. The rest
will be young animals, and although there is always a
dominant male, the group will communicate with one
another using a variety of methods.
One of the main ways in which they do this is a short,
sharp bark, which is used to warn of danger or to
indicate that the capybara is unhappy. Observers have
seen capybaras barking at each other as a sign of
displeasure, and to warn intruding males to move away
from their territory. In other circumstances, though, a

soer sound is engaged. Infant capybara will make a
constant guttural purring sound, for instance, and it is
believed that this allows them to keep in contact with
their mothers.
In fact, the purr appears to be a subordinate cry,

since it’s also used when a capybara is losing a fight (it
is usually accompanied by a chattering of teeth from
the aggressor). When content, a capybara will make a
low-pitched clicking sound, while females in estrous

will whistle: females interested in a male will oen join
together to sing as part of a beautiful long-lasting chorus.

Powerful paddlers
The key features for survival in the wetlands
They have long whiskers
Typical of rodents, capybaras have
whiskers. These are used to help the
whiskers. These are used to help the
animals feel their way through muddy
animals feel their way through muddy
and silted water – handy given they
spend a lot of their time either on
muddied banks or in water.
They have excellent hearing
Capybaras can hear ultrasonic and
infrasonic sound ranges that are
inaudible to human ears. They also “Their
have a great sense of smell. These
senses compensate for poorer webbed feet
eyesight and a lack of night vision.
They have fast little legs help to make
Capybaras are able to run on land at
Capybaras are able to run on land at
speeds of up to 35kph (22mph). They
speeds of up to 35kph (22mph). They
will run if they sense danger, although
will run if they sense danger, although them great
ghting capybaras will rear up on

two fi
two fighting capybaras will rear up on
their hind legs before charging at swimmers”
one another.
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