Capybara

LC Herbivore Grasslands, Swamps
35–66 kg
Weight
8–10 yrs
Lifespan
35 km/h
Top Speed
South America
Found In

Endemic to South America, the Capybara is a herbivore species inhabiting grasslands, swamps habitats. Weighing 35–66 kg, it is classified as Least Concern.

Physical Characteristics & Habitat

Size & Speed

Metric Capybara Herbivore Mammals Median Difference
Weight 50.5 kg 117.3 kg ↓ 57%
Height 56 cm
Top Speed 35 km/h 40 km/h ↓ 13%
Avg Speed 32.5 km/h
Weight (kg)50.5avg 117.3Speed (km/h)35avg 40Lifespan (yrs)9avg 22.5

Habitat & Distribution

The Capybara inhabits grasslands, swamps habitats. It can be found in South America.

Typical coloring: Brown.

Diet & Predators

Diet: Herbivore
Predators: Jaguars, Anacondas

Behavior & Reproduction

Social Structure

The Capybara is a group-based species belonging to the Caviidae family.

Reproduction

Gestation Period: 150 days
Offspring per Birth: 2-8
Lifespan: 8–10 years

Conservation & Comparison

IUCN Conservation Status

LC The Capybara is classified as Least Concern. There are 66 species with the same status in our database.

Species Comparison

Among 50 herbivore mammals, the Capybara’s weight of 35–66 kg is significantly lower than the group median of 117.3 kg.

Weight rank: #22 of 66 Least Concern species.

# Species Weight Status
1 Humpback Whale Up to 30000 kg LC
2 Walrus Up to 1200 kg LC
3 Yak 500–1200 kg LC
4 Water Buffalo 300–1200 kg LC
5 Zebra 400–900 kg LC

Related Species

How much does a Capybara weigh?

A Capybara typically weighs 35–66 kg, which is well below average compared to the median of 117.3 kg among herbivore mammals.

What is the conservation status of the Capybara?

The Capybara is classified as “Least Concern”. There are 66 species with the same status in our database.

Where does the Capybara live?

The Capybara is found in South America, in grasslands, swamps habitats.

How does the Capybara reproduce?

The Capybara has a gestation period of 150 days and typically produces 2-8 offspring per birth.

Data Sources: IUCN, WWF, National Geographic, Smithsonian Institution.

Last Updated: April 10, 2026