Hydrochoerus isthmius, Goldman, 1912

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Caviidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 406-438 : 437

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6585510

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6585496

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FF87C7-FFB7-5347-2542-FB225B0FB220

treatment provided by

Carolina

scientific name

Hydrochoerus isthmius
status

 

16. View Plate 25: Caviidae

Lesser Capybara

Hydrochoerus isthmius View in CoL

French: Capybara du Panama / German: Kleines \Wasserschwein / Spanish: Capibara pequena

Taxonomy. Hydrochoerus isthmius Goldman, 1912 View in CoL ,

“Marraganti, near the head of tide-water on the Rio Tuyra, eastern Panama,” Darién Province .

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. E Panama into W Colombia, and NW Venezuela (Zulia State). View Figure

Descriptive notes. Head-body 1025 mm, hindfoot 200 mm (holotype). No specific data are available for body weight. Greatest length of skull is 200 mm. The Lesser Capybara is very similar in external morphology but slightly smaller overall than the Greater Capybara ( H. hydrochaeris ). Pelage of the Lesser Capybara is coarse and a dark reddish brown, with some blackish regions on rump and hindlegs in some individuals.

Habitat. Bodies of water or streamside habitats.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information for this species, but the Lesser Capybara is herbivorous, apparently similar to the Greater Capybara.

Breeding. In Venezuela, breeding of Lesser Capybaras occurs year-round. Gestation lasts 104-111 days. Litter sizes are 2-8 young.

Activity patterns. The Lesser Capybara is shy and reclusive and apparently forages in small groups. Outside the Panama Canal Zone, they are described as largely nocturnal.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Data Deficient on The IUCN Red List. There are no data on trends in population or distribution of the Lesser Capybara that allow for a valid conservation assessment. Subsistence hunting and habitat loss are threats in parts of its distribution.

Bibliography. Dunnum (2015), Eisenberg (1989), Reid (1997), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Mammalia

Order

Rodentia

Family

Caviidae

Genus

Hydrochoerus

Loc

Hydrochoerus isthmius

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier 2016
2016
Loc

Hydrochoerus isthmius

Goldman 1912
1912
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