Lesser capybara

Lesser capybara
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Clade: Synapsida
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Caviidae
Subfamily: Hydrochoerinae
Genus: Hydrochoerus
Species: H. isthmius
Binomial name
Hydrochoerus isthmius
Goldman, 1912
Range of the lesser capybara

The lesser capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius)[2] is a large semiaquatic rodent of the family Caviidae found in eastern Panama, northwestern Colombia and western Venezuela.[3] It was recognized as a distinct subspecies of capybara in 1912, and was elevated to species status in 1991. It breeds year-round, with an average litter size of 3.5.[1] Individuals may be diurnal or nocturnal and solitary or social depending on season, habitat and hunting pressure.[1] This species is reported to be common in Panama but rare in Venezuela.[1] It is threatened by subsistence hunting, the destruction of gallery forests and swamp drainage, specifically the swamp drainage of the Magdalena River.[1] Its karyotype has 2n = 64 and FN = 104.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Delgado, C.; Emmons, L. (2016). "Hydrochoerus isthmus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2016: e.T136277A22189896. Retrieved 9 September 2016.
  2. Hydrochoerus isthmius (lesser capybara). University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved on June 11, 2009.
  3. 1 2 Woods, C.A.; Kilpatrick, C.W. (2005). "Infraorder Hystricognathi". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 1556. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.


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