Capybaras: Aquatic Evolution

Capybaras are giant rodents who live in the rainforests of South America. They live next to rivers and swamps and are closely related to guinea pigs. Capybaras are good swimmers with webbed toes, and they spend a lot of time in the water. A capybara can spend up to five minutes at a time under water. As time goes on and water levels rise, they may begin to evolve ways to spend even more time in the water. These adaptations could include a beaver like tail to help them swim faster, bigger eyes to help them see underwater, and sharp back teeth to help them eat more small aquatic animals. Spending more time in water could help them escape predators and avoid the heat of the warming planet.