This is a Capybara OVERVIEW: The capybara is the world's largest rodent, native to South America and averaging around 108 pounds. These semi-aquatic mammals have short legs, blunt snouts, and brownish short hair. They can weigh up to 70 kilograms and stand 2 feet tall at the shoulder. Capybaras live in flooded grasslands, jungle ponds, and mucky marshes, eating aquatic plants and grasses. They are proficient swimmers, able to swim for up to five minutes and even underwater for long distances.