Habitats, population densities, and social structure of capybaras (Hydrochaeris Hydrochaeris, Rodentia) in the Pantanal, Brazil

Alho, Cleber J.R.; Rondon, Nelson L.

doi:10.1590/S0101-81751987000200006

Abstract

(1) The Pantanal is the central portion of a sunken flat plain bordering the upper Paraguay river, with an area of 140,000 km². Seasonal floods begin in January and end in April. From May to October the land dries out and campos (grassland formations) and scattered pools appear. (2) Typical capybara habitat in the Pantanal is composed of three components: the water, a patch of forest, and a grass field for foraging. Highest densities of capybaras (14 individuals/km²) were found during the rainy season when the available space for capybaras was reduced due to the flooding. Areas without ponds or creeks presented low densities (from 0.38 to 0.84 capybaras/km²). Group sizes ranged from 2 to 49 individuals (x = 9.48). (3) Reproduction occurred year-round and young of different ages were seen throughout the year. However, the principal recruitment of young to the population was observed in July-August. While the females took turns in caring for young of different ages, probably the offspring of mothers who are sisters in the same social groups, the males competed intensively with each other for access to breeding females. The male's reproductive success appears to be limited to the number of breeding females that males have access to in the social group.

Habitats, population densities, and social structure of capybaras (Hydrochaeris Hydrochaeris, Rodentia) in the Pantanal, Brazil

Cleber J.R. Alho^I; Nelson L. Rondon^II

^IUniversidade de Brasília, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Laboratório de Zoologia e Ecologia Animal, 70910 Brasília - DF, Brazil

^IIUniversidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Departamento de Engenharia Florestal. 78000 Cuiabá - MT, Brasil

ABSTRACT

(1) The Pantanal is the central portion of a sunken flat plain bordering the upper Paraguay river, with an area of 140,000 km². Seasonal floods begin in January and end in April. From May to October the land dries out and campos (grassland formations) and scattered pools appear.

(2) Typical capybara habitat in the Pantanal is composed of three components: the water, a patch of forest, and a grass field for foraging. Highest densities of capybaras (14 individuals/km²) were found during the rainy season when the available space for capybaras was reduced due to the flooding. Areas without ponds or creeks presented low densities (from 0.38 to 0.84 capybaras/km²). Group sizes ranged from 2 to 49 individuals (x = 9.48).

(3) Reproduction occurred year-round and young of different ages were seen throughout the year. However, the principal recruitment of young to the population was observed in July-August. While the females took turns in caring for young of different ages, probably the offspring of mothers who are sisters in the same social groups, the males competed intensively with each other for access to breeding females. The male's reproductive success appears to be limited to the number of breeding females that males have access to in the social group.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by the IBDF (Departamento de Parques Nacionais e Reservas Equivalentes) in the area of Poconé and by EMBRAPA (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária) in the area of Nhecolândia. The research would not have been possible without the help of many field assistants. We would like to thank Tereza Cristina Magro, Júlio Dalponte, Pedro Nonato Conceição, Zilca Maria Campos, Humberto Gonçalves, Estelito, Tito, and many others for their help. Francisco Breyer assisted us in arranging for local research facilities. Thomas E. Lacher, and Anthony B. Rylands reviewed the manuscript.

Gil, A., Perea J. & Ruiz, S. (1976). Habitos territoriales y comportamiento social del

Alho, C.J.R. (1982). Brazilian Rodents: Their Habitats and Habitats. Pp. 143-166 Mammalian Biology in South America (Ed. by M.A. Mares and H.H. Genoways). The Pymatuning Symposia in Ecology, Special Publication Series, Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Vol 6: XII + 1 - 539.
Azcarate, T. (1976). Algunos datos sobre el comportamiento social em una manada de chiguires (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris). Pp. 13-15, Abstract: II Seminário sobre chiguires (H.h.) y las babas (C.c.). Programas y resumenes, 116 pp. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnologicas, Caracas.
Ascarate T. (1980). Sociobiologia y manejo del capibara (Hidrochaerus hydrochaeris). Doñana Acta Vertebrados 7 (6):1-228.
Donaldson, S.L., Wirtz, T.B. & Hite, A.E. (1975). The social behaviour of capybaras (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris) at Evansville Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook 15:01-206.
Eisenberg, J.F., O'Connell, M.A. & August, P.V. (1976). Density productivity, and distribution of mammals in two Venezuelan habitats. Pp. 187-207 Vertebrate Ecology in the Northern Neotropics (Ed. by J.F. Eisenberg). The National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C., U.S.A.
Escobar, A. & Gonzalez-Jimenez, E. (1975). Estudio de la competencia alimenticia de los herbivoros mayores del llano inundable con referencia especial al chiguirre. Agronomia Tropical, 26:215-227.
Gil, A., Perea J. & Ruiz, S. (1976). Habitos territoriales y comportamiento social del "chiguirre" (H.h.h.) Pp. 11-12 II Seminario sobre chiguirres (H.h.) y las babas (C.c.). Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnologicas, Caracas, 116 pp.
Gonzales-Jimenez, E. (1977). The capybara - an indigenous source of meat in Tropical America. World Animal Review (FAO), 21:24-30.
MacDonald, D.W. (1981). Dwindling resources and the social behaviour of capybaras (Hidrochaerus hydrochaeris) (Mammalia). Journal of Zoology (London), 194:371-391.
MacDonald, D.W., Kiantz, K. & Aplin, R.T. (1984). Behavioural anatomical and chemical aspects of scent marking amongst capybaras (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris) (Rodentia: caviomorpha). Journal of Zoology (London) 202:341-360.
Ojasti, J. (1968). Notes on the mating behaviour of the capybara. Journal of Mammalogy, 49:534-535.
Ojasti, J. (1973). Estudio biologico del chiguirre o capybara. Fondo Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Editorial Sucre, Caracas, 275 pp.
Ojasti, J. (1978). The relation between population and production of capybara (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris). Unpubl. Ph.D. dissert., University of Georgia, Athens, U.S.A., xi + 204 pp.
Ojasti, J. & Medina-Padilla, G. (1972). The management of capybara in Venezuela, Transactions North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, 37:268-277.
Ojasti, J. & Burgos, L.J. (1985). Density regulation in population of capybaras. Acta Zoologica Fennica 173:81-83.
Parra, R., Escobar, A. & Gonzales-Jimenez, E. (1978). El chiguire, su potencial biológico y su cría en confinamiento. Informe Anual de Instituto de Procucion Animal (Maracay):83-93.
Pott, A. (1982). Pastagens das sub-regiões dos Paiaguás e da Nhecolândia do Pantanal matogrossense. EMBRAPA. Circular Técnica n.º 10, 49 pp.
Rewell, R.E. (1950). Hypertrophy of sebaceous glands on the snout as a secondary male sexual character in the capybara (Hidrochaerus hidrochaeris). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 119:817-819.
Schaller, G.B. & Crawshaw, Jr. P.G. (1981). Social organization in a capybara population. Säugetierkundliche Mitteilungen 29 (1):3-16.
Zara, J.L. (1973). Breeding and husbandry of the capybara (Hidrochaerus hydrochaeris) at Evansville Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook, 13:137-139.

Publication Dates

Publication in this collection
20 Aug 2009
Date of issue
1987

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

[1] Alho, C.J.R. (1982). Brazilian Rodents: Their Habitats and Habitats. Pp. 143-166 Mammalian Biology in South America (Ed. by M.A. Mares and H.H. Genoways). The Pymatuning Symposia in Ecology, Special Publication Series, Pymatuning Laboratory of Ecology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Vol 6: XII + 1 - 539.

[2] Azcarate, T. (1976). Algunos datos sobre el comportamiento social em una manada de chiguires (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris). Pp. 13-15, Abstract: II Seminário sobre chiguires (H.h.) y las babas (C.c.). Programas y resumenes, 116 pp. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnologicas, Caracas.

[3] Ascarate T. (1980). Sociobiologia y manejo del capibara (Hidrochaerus hydrochaeris). Doñana Acta Vertebrados 7 (6):1-228.

[4] Donaldson, S.L., Wirtz, T.B. & Hite, A.E. (1975). The social behaviour of capybaras (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris) at Evansville Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook 15:01-206.

[5] Eisenberg, J.F., O'Connell, M.A. & August, P.V. (1976). Density productivity, and distribution of mammals in two Venezuelan habitats. Pp. 187-207 Vertebrate Ecology in the Northern Neotropics (Ed. by J.F. Eisenberg). The National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

[6] Escobar, A. & Gonzalez-Jimenez, E. (1975). Estudio de la competencia alimenticia de los herbivoros mayores del llano inundable con referencia especial al chiguirre. Agronomia Tropical, 26:215-227.

[7] Gil, A., Perea J. & Ruiz, S. (1976). Habitos territoriales y comportamiento social del "chiguirre" (H.h.h.) Pp. 11-12 II Seminario sobre chiguirres (H.h.) y las babas (C.c.). Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnologicas, Caracas, 116 pp.

[8] Gonzales-Jimenez, E. (1977). The capybara - an indigenous source of meat in Tropical America. World Animal Review (FAO), 21:24-30.

[9] MacDonald, D.W. (1981). Dwindling resources and the social behaviour of capybaras (Hidrochaerus hydrochaeris) (Mammalia). Journal of Zoology (London), 194:371-391.

[10] MacDonald, D.W., Kiantz, K. & Aplin, R.T. (1984). Behavioural anatomical and chemical aspects of scent marking amongst capybaras (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris) (Rodentia: caviomorpha). Journal of Zoology (London) 202:341-360.

[11] Ojasti, J. (1968). Notes on the mating behaviour of the capybara. Journal of Mammalogy, 49:534-535.

[12] Ojasti, J. (1973). Estudio biologico del chiguirre o capybara. Fondo Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Editorial Sucre, Caracas, 275 pp.

[13] Ojasti, J. (1978). The relation between population and production of capybara (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris). Unpubl. Ph.D. dissert., University of Georgia, Athens, U.S.A., xi + 204 pp.

[14] Ojasti, J. & Medina-Padilla, G. (1972). The management of capybara in Venezuela, Transactions North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, 37:268-277.

[15] Ojasti, J. & Burgos, L.J. (1985). Density regulation in population of capybaras. Acta Zoologica Fennica 173:81-83.

[16] Parra, R., Escobar, A. & Gonzales-Jimenez, E. (1978). El chiguire, su potencial biológico y su cría en confinamiento. Informe Anual de Instituto de Procucion Animal (Maracay):83-93.

[17] Pott, A. (1982). Pastagens das sub-regiões dos Paiaguás e da Nhecolândia do Pantanal matogrossense. EMBRAPA. Circular Técnica n.º 10, 49 pp.

[18] Rewell, R.E. (1950). Hypertrophy of sebaceous glands on the snout as a secondary male sexual character in the capybara (Hidrochaerus hidrochaeris). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 119:817-819.

[19] Schaller, G.B. & Crawshaw, Jr. P.G. (1981). Social organization in a capybara population. Säugetierkundliche Mitteilungen 29 (1):3-16.

[20] Zara, J.L. (1973). Breeding and husbandry of the capybara (Hidrochaerus hydrochaeris) at Evansville Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook, 13:137-139.