The hair is so sparse, actually, on full-grown capybaras, that they are prone to sunburns in the hot south american sun. To combat the heat and sun rays, they tend to spend much of their time in the water. Apparently, they are excellent swimmers! They’ve been known to sleep completely underwater except for their snout, which they stick up above the surface in order to breathe. They can also hold their breath for over five minutes.

A capybara does have to be careful, though. Their favorite hideout — the waters and marshes of South America, is also the home of the South American Anaconda! Many capybaras have been known to be a rather large meal for that very hungry snake. It is actually the preferred food source for the anaconda.

Capybaras actually have a life span of 8-10 years, but living in the dangerous wild of South America seems to severely cut down on their lifespans. They are a favorite food of some of the most dangerous animals in South America and are routinely hunted for their meat, which people say seems to taste similar to pork.

To combat the threat of predators, Capybaras stay in packs, with the most dominant male at the center of the pack. He presumably has access to the best resources and is alerted first if their is danger in the area. I would assume that it’d be good to be the dominant male capybara — but I certainly wouldn’t want to be caught out on the edge of the pack.

Humans become another of the predators of the capybara and many times this poor rodent has been hunted so much for its meat and its fur that its come close to being put on the endangered species list. Some farmers also have seen them as competition in grazing for the animals they DO want to raise, so they’ll go on capybara killing sprees to thin out their numbers. Somehow, they always seem to bounce back in number. The capybaras can breed very rapidly and the sperm of the male capybara lasts much longer than that of other rodents — making this a very resilient creature.

The main habitat for the capybara is right in the middle of the South American jungle. They tend to prefer wooded and marshy areas and are right at home in the dense jungle. Some capybaras have made it as far north as Florida, but probably just from having escaped some form of captivity — there have even been some people who have adopted this huge rodent as pets. A MUCH, much larger version of a hamster It is illegal, though, in some states to keep them as pets. I mean, afterall, you’d really want to think long and hard before you took on the investment of keeping this HUGE rodent as a real-life pet.

Kind of greasy .. but not bad

Cuy ( or guinea pig ) is a type of South American Animal routinely served up in all types of restaurants and roadside stands. It can be tough for foreigners to get past the idea that they may be eating what seems like someone’s pet. But once you actually do start to dig in and eat a cuy, they actually aren’t that bad.

I had my first one the other night in a restaurant in Ecuador. The meat was good – a little greasy – but not bad at all, really. The reactions at the table were mixed. Many people LOVED the taste of it and didn’t think twice about digging in. Several others, though, were more reserved.

Apparently, this South American animal is enjoyed throughout the continent. Sooooo, what’s your vote ?
Given the right social situation, and cultural considerations .. would you eat a cuy ?

A Baby Cuy

A Cuy is pretty much a large hamster! Its most similar to a guinea pig, a pet in many Western homes. Below the equator though, this south american animal is table food. They are actually a profitable food source there, beating out more traditional forms of animals such as cows and pigs. The main reasons, and we guess they make sense, are that cuy actually reproduce more quickly and require much less room than normal livestock.

The cuy is so enriched in the South American culture that it was seen in a famous painting of The Last Supper with Jesus and his twelve disciples dining on .. you guessed it! CUY! Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia are the main countries that enjoy this guy as a major part of their diets. They are baked and usually served with a few sides, generally potatoes.

Apparently in some cities, cuy is served roasted on a skewer and standing on all fours! Its hard to think of your pet hamster being served up for dinner, but in many places this south american animal is quite the dish.

Could you eat this South American animal ? Apparently the meat tastes a little greasy, but good, according to Westerners that have tried it! Mmmmm… roasted cuy!