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Which Is the Largest Rodent in the World?
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Quick Answer
The capybara of South America is the largest living rodent, weighing 35 to 66 kilograms and measuring up to about 1.3 metres long.
The Full Story
Capybaras live near rivers, lakes and marshes across much of South America, from Panama to northern Argentina. They are semi-aquatic, with slightly webbed feet, and can stay underwater for up to about five minutes to hide from predators. They live in groups of typically 10 to 20 animals and graze on grasses and water plants. Like all rodents, their front teeth grow continuously and are worn down by chewing. An extinct relative, Josephoartigasia monesi, found in Uruguay, may have weighed around a tonne.
Key Facts
1.A capybara can eat around 3 kilograms of grass a day.
2.Their eyes, ears and nostrils sit high on the head, like a hippo's.
3.Their name comes from a Tupi word often translated as 'master of the grasses'.
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The giant, famously calm rodent that other animals love to sit on."