capybara

Thân thiện

A capybara relaxes in a warm river with its family.

Definition

Noun: 1. A large, semiaquatic rodent: The capybara is a large, tailless rodent native to South America. It is the world's largest living rodent species. It has a heavy, barrel-shaped body, short legs, and partly webbed feet, which make it an excellent swimmer. It is a herbivore and lives in groups near bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and marshes.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • We saw a family of capybaras resting on the riverbank during our trip to the Pantanal.
  • The capybara's scientific name is Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, which means "water hog."
  • Due to its calm nature, the capybara is often seen peacefully coexisting with other animals like birds and turtles.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological Role: The term is used in biology and ecology to discuss keystone herbivores in South American wetland ecosystems.
  • As a major grazer, the capybara plays a crucial role in maintaining the vegetation structure of its habitat.

Variants and Related Words

• Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris (n): The scientific (Latin) name for the capybara.
• Rodent (n): The broader biological order (Rodentia) to which the capybara belongs.

Synonyms

• Water hog: A common descriptive name referencing its habitat and size.
• Carpincho: A common name for the capybara used in several South American countries like Argentina and Uruguay.

Related Phrases

• Capybara sanctuary: A protected area or reserve dedicated to the care and conservation of capybaras.
  • They volunteered at a capybara sanctuary to help rehabilitate injured animals.

Học thuật

Noun

1. pig-sized tailless South American amphibious rodent with partly webbed feet; largest living rodent

Từ đồng nghĩa

• capibara
• Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris