capybara

Everyday

1. A capybara is the world's largest rodent, a big, calm, barrel-shaped animal with short brown fur, from South America. tree →
2. Capybaras live in groups near rivers, lakes and swamps and are very good swimmers. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons capybaras come up in classification (they are rodents, like guinea pigs, their close relatives), habitats (wetlands of South America) and adaptations: their eyes, ears and nostrils are on top of their head so they can stay hidden in water, and their feet are slightly webbed. On the internet capybaras are famous for being calm and letting birds and other animals sit on them.

Examples

• The capybara is the largest rodent in the world. tree →
• Capybaras love to swim and wallow in water. tree →
• A bird sat on the capybara's back. tree →
• Capybaras are related to guinea pigs. tree →
• Jaguars and caimans hunt capybaras. tree →
• The capybaras lay in the sun by the river. tree →
• A group of capybaras grazed on the grass. tree →

Note

Plural «capybaras». Say «kap-ee-BAR-uh». It is a rodent, not a pig or a beaver.