Capybaras

This natural history details information about the capybaras' anatomy, ecology, behavior, biology, conservation, management, and taxonomy. Capybaras are robust and agile, and reach the size of a small pig and weigh upward of 100 pounds at maturity. They range throughout South American tropical wetlands. Largely extirpated from their former haunts through agricultural practices and poaching, they have adapted well to human management and conservation efforts and are frequently raised on ranches as valued sources of both meat and leather. The herbivorous rodents play a vital role in the ecosystems of natural grasslands, wetlands, and gallery forests and are commonly prey for caimans, anacondas, jaguars, and pumas. The book describes the capybaras' known history; the diseases, parasites, and hazards they face; and their population and behavioral characteristics. It also discusses how they interact with predators and other animals and explains their long-running and growing commercial importance to humankind.