Capybaras on the loose
TROPICAL ECOLOGY
How do they feed?
Capybaras are herbivores that feed primarily on grass and aquatic plants, sometimes sedges when there is food scarcity during change of seasons. Some of the common plants they feed on are Torepedo grass and West Indian marsh grass which is found growing in wetlands or marsh area. However, their diet could be affected by seasons (dry or wet) and availability of grass species in an ecosystem.
For instance, the availability of food is higher during the wet seasons than the dry seasons. Hence, capybaras tend to be more selective as there are more choices of food in wet seasons.
It is observed that in the dry seasons, capybaras began feeding in the morning (around 10 a.m.) and continued for about 1 to 2 hours while they only began grazing around noon during the wet seasons.
Capybara’s feeding behavior can get nasty sometimes.
It may sound awful and disgusting. However, this behavior is very important for the digestion and absorption of nutrients in capybaras.
Capybaras eat their feces to obtain bacterial gut flora which aids in the digestion of the cellulose in grass that makes up their regular diet, as well as extracting maximum nutrients from their meal. In a similar manner to how cows chew cud, they may also regurgitate food to chew it again.
Besides that, the front teeth of capybara grow continuously to compensate for the persistent wear from eating grasses, just like how the other rodents do.
Fun Fact:
Capybaras eat their own feces.
