The capybara, or Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, is the largest living rodent in the world, originating from the wetlands and forests of South America. These semi-aquatic mammals have gained widespread recognition for their placid temperament and social nature. Capybaras live in family groups, often consisting of a dominant male, several females, and their offspring, with their social nomenclature reflecting their biological classification rather than unique common names.
The Terminology for Adult Females
Unlike common livestock such as cattle or swine, the adult female capybara does not have a single, widely recognized, and distinct common English name. The most accurate and frequently used term is simply “female capybara.” This descriptive name is preferred for clarity in scientific and general contexts.
The practice of giving unique names to female animals, like “cow” for a female bovine, is generally reserved for domesticated or economically significant species. Capybaras do not fall into this category, leading to the use of a straightforward, gender-specific descriptor.
The term “doe,” which refers to the adult female of various deer, rabbit, and goat species, is occasionally used for a female capybara. This usage is not universal and is significantly less common than the direct label of “female,” especially in published biological literature. Adult females are slightly heavier than their male counterparts, with recorded weights for wild females reaching over 200 pounds. The focus remains on “female capybara” to clearly specify the sex and species.
Naming the Young and Males
The terminology for the young and the males of the species follows a similarly direct pattern. A baby capybara is most commonly called a “pup.” These pups are remarkably precocial, meaning they are born well-developed, covered in fur, and able to run, swim, and dive within hours of birth. Females typically give birth to a litter averaging four pups after a gestation period of about five months.
The adult male capybara is simply referred to as a “male.” While terms like “boar,” used for male pigs, might be encountered in some informal discussions due to the capybara’s resemblance to a “water hog,” “male capybara” is the standard designation. Males can often be identified by a more pronounced, dark sebaceous gland on their snout, called a morrillo, which is used for scent-marking territory. These straightforward names help maintain consistency when discussing the social structure of their groups, which are centered around a dominant male, several females, and their young.