<< Previous Next >>

Giant Guinea pig?


Giant Guinea pig?
Photo Information
Copyright: sarah roberts (seraphsarah) Silver Note Writer [C: 2 W: 0 N: 12] (57)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2004-08-25
Exposure: f/4.9, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-05-22 23:28
Viewed: 548
Points: 4
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
CapyBara

The world’s largest rodent. Also called water pig or water cavy. It looks like a huge guinea pig, but with a shorter body. The body is massive, the head proportionately large and the legs fairly short. The broad deep head has small ears, small eyes and small nostrils, all set high up. Each front foot has four toes with hoof-like claws and there are three similar toes on each hind foot. All feet are slightly webbed.


Distribution: Northern South America, east of the Andes mountains.


Habitat: Wooded areas with dense vegetation around pools, lakes, rivers and swamps.


Food: Herbivorous, feed on aquatic plants, often standing belly deep in water to do so. They also feed on grass and will sometimes graze with cattle.


Skin/Color/Coat: Its coat of long coarse hair is sparse and coloured grey to reddish-brown, yellowish-brown on the under parts with some areas of black on the face, the outer surfaces of the limbs and the rump.


Vocalization: Their voice consists of clicking sounds, high-pitched whistles and low grunts. Normally peacefully and inoffensive by nature.


Reproduction and Development: Capable of breeding throughout the year but mating takes place during the rainy season. (April - May in Venezuela). There is a single litter of two to eight each year. Gestation is 15 - 18 weeks. The babies, born at an advanced stage of development like their relative the guinea pig, weigh about one kg. They remain with their mother until well on towards the next breeding season. Their life span is 8 - 10 years in the wild.


Adaptations: When alarmed capybara run like horses and take refuge in the water, swimming and diving with ease. They live in groups of up to 20 among dense vegetation in marshes and swamps or in wooded areas around rivers and lakes. Normally they swim with little more than ears, eyes and nostrils showing above the water. When hard pressed, they can swim considerable distances under water, coming up among water plants and exposing only their nostrils.


Threats: In addition to being hunted by humans for meat and hide and being killed as pests, capybara are preyed upon by jaguars and caiman. Humans also kill them for their skin which contain a grease used in pharmaceuticals and for their incisors which are used as ornaments.


http://www.torontozoo.com/Animals/details.asp?AnimalId=361


This photo was taken by me a sfew years ago at the TO zoo.
LordPotty, Chako has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

You've done well with this one Sarah.
A great shot of this CapyBara.
Excellent colour and detail.
Watch out for those bright white patches.
Not too bad in this case.
A good job overall.
Cheers,Steve

  • Great 
  • Chako (18)
  • [2007-05-23 11:14]

Hello Sarah.
Good composition and detail.
It looks like he/she is contemplating something. Keep up the good work.
Daniel.

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF