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title: ""The capybara. “In northern Brazil, and southern Venezuela, there are…"
date: 2017-07-16
source: facebook
type: Archer T. Ships shared a link.
---

# "The capybara. “In northern Brazil, and southern Venezuela, there are…

*July 16, 2017 · Facebook*

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[http://www.recordnet.com/article/20131103/A_NEWS0803/311030307](http://www.recordnet.com/article/20131103/A_NEWS0803/311030307){target="_blank"}
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\"The capybara.\
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"In northern Brazil, and southern Venezuela, there are rodents called capybaras, that live in the Amazon River basin," Kembel wrote. "They are the largest rodents in the world, and can be the size of a pig. \... These furry creatures eat water hyacinth as the main part of their diets. What if several of these were imported, and placed in the Delta to live off of these pesty plants?"\
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Janis Kembel, future Delta Hall of Famer.\
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The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) - the name means "river pig - is a "semi-aquatic mammal." It looks like a cross between a pig and a squinchy-faced beaver that applies pomade to its fur.\
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The "capy" lives on land and water in large groups. It'll bask in the sun, grazing on grass; if startled, they'll all bolt into the water. They can submerge for five minutes.\
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They can float just under the surface with just their nostrils poking out, breathing like hippos.\
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Kembel, who worked for a Brazilian airline, saw capybaras in the wild. "They're a beautiful deep shade of red - they go from brown to red, like a dachshund or an Irish setter," she said.\
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Capybaras usually reach 100 pounds. Like all rodents, they have two giant front teeth. But they don't attack humans. The ones in captivity let humans pet and feed them.\
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Think giant, amphibious hamsters.\"\
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[http://www.recordnet.com/article/20131103/A_NEWS0803/311030307](http://www.recordnet.com/article/20131103/A_NEWS0803/311030307){target="_blank"}
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