capybara

American  

[kap-uh-bahr-uh] / ˌkæp əˈbɑr ə /

Or capibara

noun

1. a South American tailless rodent, Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris, living along the banks of rivers and lakes, having partly webbed feet: the largest living rodent.

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capybara British  

/ ˌkæpɪˈbɑːrə /

noun

1. the largest rodent: a pig-sized amphibious hystricomorph, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, resembling a guinea pig and inhabiting river banks in Central and South America: family Hydrochoeridae

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Etymology

Origin of capybara

1765–75; < New Latin < Portuguese capibara < Tupi

Example Sentences

A farm in Moray believes its pair of capybaras have been stolen.

From BBC

Although their distribution has since contracted, enough suitable habitat remains, along with prey such as capybaras and fish, to support their continued large size.

From Science Daily

Fish such as wolf fish, peacock bass, and South American lungfish were especially common, accompanied by reptiles including caimans and turtles, and mammals such as capybaras, pacas, and armadillos.

From Science Daily

He has turned more than half his farm over to a wildlife reserve where ostriches, deer and giant rodents called capybaras roam, and on the remainder practices sustainable farming.

From The Wall Street Journal

"This year, there were three dead manatees, five dead buffalo. We found more than 10 caimans. We found turtles, capybaras, birds, thousands of dead fish," she said last June.

From BBC