Hydrochoerus
| Hydrochoerus Temporal range: Pleistocene - Recent |
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| Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Caviidae |
| Subfamily: | Hydrochoerinae |
| Genus: | Hydrochoerus Brisson, 1762 |
| Species | |
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| Ranges of capybara (green) and lesser capybara (red) | |
The genus Hydrochoerus contains two living species of capybaras from South America and Panama,[1] the largest living rodents in the world. The genus name is derived from the Greek ὕδωρ (hýdor, water) plus χοίρος (choíros, pig).
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[edit] Characteristics
Capybara are semiaquatic, found in and near lakes, rivers, swamps and flooded savanna. Their diet is dominated by grasses. Adults weigh up to 65 kg (140 lb). The gestation period is 130–150 days, with 2–8 (most commonly 4) young born to females.
[edit] Behavior
Capybara are highly social, living in groups of up to 100 and communicating through a variety of vocalizations (Rowe and Honeycutt, 2003). Breeding is polygynous, with males forming harems.
[edit] Classification
Molecular results have consistently suggested that Hydrochoerus is most closely related to Kerodon (the rock cavies), and that the two evolved from within the Caviidae.[2] This led Woods and Kilpatrick to unite the two into the subfamily Hydrochoerinae within Caviidae.[1] Based on use of a molecular clock approach, Hydrochoerus appears to have diverged from Kerodon in the late Middle Miocene.[3]
[edit] Species
- Genus Hydrochoerus
- Hydrochoerus gaylordi (extinct)
- Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris - capybara
- Hydrochoerus isthmius - lesser capybara
[edit] References
- ^ a b Woods, Charles A.; Kilpatrick, C. William (16 November 2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi (pp. 1538-1600)". In Wilson, Don E., and Reeder, DeeAnn M., eds. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2 vols. (2142 pp.). ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494. http://www.bucknell.edu/msw3/browse.asp?id=13400217.
- ^ Rowe, D. L.; Honeycutt, R. L. (2002). "Phylogenetic relationships, ecological correlates, and molecular evolution within the Cavioidea (Mammalia, Rodentia)". Molecular Biology and Evolution 19 (3): 263–277. PMID 11861886. http://www.users.on.net/~chris.burridge/RoweMBE.pdf. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
- ^ Opazo, J. C. (2005-08-08). "A molecular timescale for Caviomorph rodents (Mammalia, Hystricognathi)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37 (3): 932–937. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.05.002. PMID 16085429. http://www.sistecol.cl/filemanager_filedownload.php?id=76. Retrieved 2011-10-03.
- Nowak, Ronald M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th edition. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1936 pp. ISBN 0-8018-5789-9
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