Meet the world's largest rodent up close

The capybara is the world's largest rodent, living in various areas throughout South America. They grow to an incredible 134 cm (4.40 ft) in length, stand up to 62 cm (24 in) tall at the withers, and typically weigh 35 to 66 kg (77 to 146 lb). The largest ever recorded weighed 91kg (201lb). They are hunted for their meat, their hide, and for the grease derived from their fat. The females are typically larger than the males.
Capybara are semiaquatic animals. They live in forested areas near bodies of water, wading in lakes, rivers, swamps, ponds, and marshes. They graze on aquatic vegetation and grasses. Capybara can hold their breath for up to five minutes at a time. They are herbivores, eating a variety of vegetation, switching their preferred diet from one season to another as the nutritional value of its food changes.
Highly social animals, capybaras exist in herds of 10-20 but they gather in larger groups during the dry season when water is more scarce.
The herd consists of a few adult males, a few adult females and offspring. Mating takes place in the water. If a female is not consenting to intercourse, she simply submerges, making it impossible to mate.
Capybaras are farmed in some areas and considered pests and competition for grazing animals. Their populations remain stable throughout Central America.