abstract:The genus Hydrochoerus contains two living species of capybaras from South America and Panama, the largest living rodents in the world. The genus name is derived from the Greek ὕδωρ (hýdor, water) plus χοίρος (choíros, pig).
Alarge semiaquaticrodent(Hydrochoerushydrochaeris)oftropicalSouth America, having short limbs and a vestigialtail and often attaining lengths of more than1.2meters(4feet.