The capybara (also capibara), Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris ("Water pig") is a semi-aquatic herbivorous animal. It is the world's largest living rodent.
The animal is also called capivara in Portuguese. The name originally derives from Tupi kaapĩ ûara ("grass eater") or possibly from the Guarani word kapiÿva, meaning roughly "master of the grasses".
They are excellent swimmers, and have partially webbed feet.
Capybaras spend most of their life in water: they mate in the water, use water to hide from and elude predators (chiefly anacondas, pumas, caimans, jaguars and humans), and can stay submerged for several minutes. They can even sleep underwater by leaving their noses exposed to the air.

Capybaras are largely herd animals, although they are also seen in pairs or alone. Males have a gland on their noses which exudes a liquid pheromone. In the mating season, they rub this gland on surrounding foliage to attract females.

[wikipedia]


pantanal, brasil