Hydrochoerus isthmius, Goldman, 1912
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6585510 |
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DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6585496 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FF87C7-FFB7-5347-2542-FB225B0FB220 |
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treatment provided by |
Carolina |
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scientific name |
Hydrochoerus isthmius |
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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).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
