Home Sweet Home: The Habitat of Capybaras

Capybaras are native to South America. (And no, they aren’t from Australia.) They stretch from eastern Panama, home to Lesser Capybaras, down to a small area in Argentina south of Uruguay. This information, however, might not be particularly useful in determining if one would thrive in your backyard.

To refresh our geography knowledge for a moment: we need to agree that Earth is spherical, not flat. Most of you can place the North and South Poles, and likely the Equator as well. The lines stretching between the poles are longitudes and aren’t very relevant for this discussion. However, latitudes, which run parallel to the Equator, are key. The Equator is our 0-degree starting point because it’s at the center.

The map above is somewhat misleading as the continents appear flat. A globe portrays a three-dimensional perspective better, but for examining latitudes, this flat map suffices. Surprisingly, Seattle and Paris share similar latitudes, which is comforting on overcast days. Similarly, Harbin, China, known for its ice festival, isn’t far off from Seattle’s latitude. Being on the same latitude doesn’t always mean having identical weather conditions, though. Generally, coastal cities have milder climates than inland ones.

Let’s move on to examining North and South America. Capybaras inhabit every country in South America except Chile, though they aren’t everywhere in the countries they are present. They didn’t cross over the Andes Mountains on the western coast, which is why Chile is capybara-free. In Argentina, they remain close to the eastern coast, where the climate is milder.

Observe the equator on the previous map, remembering it isn’t shown on the subsequent one. The equator crosses through Ecuador. Then, focus on the 30-degree latitude line in South America, touching Uruguay’s northern edge. Similarly, this latitude in North America aligns with the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico.

The habitat map above (Figure 1.4) derives from research by the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit of the Zoology Department at the University of Oxford. Capybaras inhabit most of Brazil, covering nearly the entire Amazon watershed. However, they avoid a dry area in northeastern Brazil, likely due to heavy hunting and habitat changes.¹ (Hunting capybaras is now prohibited in Brazil.) Hence, in South America, they thrive in lowland areas where the climate remains temperate.Figure 1.14, depicted above, is extracted from the same research and illustrates the southernmost (coldest) habitat where capybaras are found. It is important to note that Bahia Blanca is situated roughly 50km (31 miles) beyond this southern boundary.

Bahia Blanca lies at latitude 38.7 South and is a coastal town. The name “Bahia Blanca” translates to “White Bay” in Spanish. Therefore, latitude 38.7 on the South American coast is excessively cold for capybaras to survive in the wild. Below is climate data for Bahia Blanca.

Figure 1.4 shows that wild capybaras generally do not extend far from the coast until reaching roughly latitude 35, visible in Figure 1.14 to the left of the “ARGENTINA” label. Buenos Aires is located around latitude 35, marking possibly the southernmost point where wild capybaras can thrive away from coastal regions.

For climate data in English (Fahrenheit), click here. This will open in a new window. Scroll down slightly to view it.

Buenos Aires typically experiences around five frosty days annually. Rainfall is common in summer, lasting from October through March. Winter temperatures average significantly above freezing, with the lowest winter temperatures still remaining above freezing. This level of cold is the harshest environment capybaras will voluntarily inhabit. A few resilient individuals live south of Buenos Aires, but remain close to the coastline.

Latitude 35 degrees traverses North America, crossing from just north of Hollywood to the Carolinas. Should capybaras choose to move north, they would likely halt around Santa Barbara, California (latitude 34.4) on the west coast. On the east coast, they might trace the Gulf of Mexico coastline and head south upon reaching Florida. In the east, they might stop around Charlotte, North Carolina (latitude 35), with only a few venturing further north, close to the coast, up to Virginia.

If you live in a region with winter temperatures colder than those in Buenos Aires, a heated winter barn will be necessary for your pet capybara. You’ll need to provide swimming options or pour warm water over them daily to moisturize their skin. Fresh browse and UV lights are also essential. Capybaras are not adapted for snowy conditions and can suffer frostbite, which is irreparable. During winter, Hibby often stayed in my kitchen to ensure his safety and warmth. When people inquire if I will adopt another capybara, my response is that our climate is not suitable for them. While zoos can offer heated barns and pools, most individuals cannot.

¹ Moreira, Ferraz, Herrera, and MacDonald; Capybara: Biology, Use and Conservation of an Exceptional Neotropical Species; Springer; 2013.

Photos provided by Melanie Typaldos at Capybara Madness unless credited otherwise.

For additional capybara-related information, visit the ROUS Foundation.

If you have further inquiries, feel free to contact me here or via the ROUS Foundation: ROUSfoundation@gmail.com