What Do Capybaras Eat?
Capybaras eat a mix of aquatic vegetation, grasses, barks, tubers, sugar cane and plant roots. They need to eat a lot because they have a limited ability to store fat in their bodies. In fact, capybaras can’t go for long periods of time without food and can undergo periods of starvation if they don’t find enough food to eat on a consistent basis. The capybara has a four-chamber stomach that allows them to digest tough plant materials that humans can’t digest easily. In addition, this multi-chambered stomach is extremely efficient at pulling out nutrients from plans. A study from research journal Mammalia found that 70% of a capybara’s diet comes from just four plants: sedges (Cyperaceae), switchgrass (Panicum grumosum), Bermuda grass (Cynodon), and crowngrass (Paspalum). The foods that Capybaras eat include:
Aquatic plantsSedgesGrassesCrowngrassSwitchgrassBermuda grassHayBarkPlant rootsReeds
How Much Food Does a Capybara Eat?
A capybara eats between 3% to 4% of its body weight every day, which is approximately six to eight pounds. One interesting fact about capybaras is they will eat their own poop. While this might sound distasteful to a human, its actually quite beneficial to capybaras! Their feces are rich in protein. While capybaras have a specialized stomach to digest many of the grasses they eat, there’s still plenty of nutrients to be absorbed by eating their feces and giving the prior day’s meal a a second digestion!
What do different types of Capybaras eat?
How Does The Diet of a Capybara Impact Other Species?
Capybaras feed on a number of plants that could begin to overwhelm river and lake ecosystems without a herbivore to keep their growth in check. Sections of the capybara’s range – such as the Pantanal in Brazil – experience more severe dry seasons where capybaras will adjust their diets away from grasses and toward reeds. Capybaras are also prey to species like jaguars, caiman, and ocelots. Their large size provides a valuable meal for South America’s largest predators.
Are Capybaras dangerous to humans?
Capybaras are not considered to be dangerous to humans. They are timid animals and will usually hide from humans if they see them. However, if they are cornered or feel that their young are in danger, like most animals they will try to defend themselves. With large teeth their bites have sent people to the hospital in the past.
