AnAge entry for Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris

Classification (HAGRID: 02498)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Rodentia
                Family: Caviidae
                    Genus: Hydrochoerus
Species: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Common name: Capybara
Synonyms: Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris

Maximum longevity: 15.1 years (captivity)
Source: ref. 671
Sample size: Large
Data quality: High
Observations: The biggest rodent, the capybara is relatively short-lived for its body size. One study in the wild reported a high juvenile mortality, particularly in the first year of life, resulting in a life expectancy at birth of shortly over one year. The oldest females found in the same study were 6 years of age and the oldest males were 7 years of age [0747]. Other estimates and anecdotal reports suggest these animals may live up to 10 years in the wild [0434]. One captive specimen lived for 15.1 years [0671].

: No information is available on life history. Please contact us if you wish to suggest or contribute data.

[0817] Bielby et al. (2007), The fast-slow continuum in mammalian life history: an empirical reevaluation (PubMed)
[0776] Seluanov et al. (2007), Telomerase activity coevolves with body mass not lifespan (PubMed)
[0671] Richard Weigl (2005), Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World
[0036] Savage et al. (2004), The predominance of quarter-power scaling in biology
[0420] White and Seymour (2003), Mammalian basal metabolic rate is proportional to body mass2/3 (PubMed)
[0610] Ernest (2003), Life history characteristics of placental non-volant mammals
[0434] Ronald Nowak (1999), Walker's Mammals of the World
[0747] Jose Moreira (1995), The Reproduction, Demography and Management of Capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) on Marajo Island - Brazil
[0455] Virginia Hayssen et al. (1993), Asdell's Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction: A Compendium of Species-Specific Data
[0680] Wootton (1987), The effects of body mass, phylogeny, habitat, and trophic level on mammalian age at first reproduction