Category: Mammals
Capybaras are the largest rodent in the world and can weigh in excess of 100 pounds! They are native to South America and inhabit savannas and dense forests near bodies of water. They are highly social animals that can be found in groups of around a hundred individuals. They are selective herbivore and are related to guinea pigs.
A 200 Million Year-old Iconoclast
If a defining trait of mammals is that they give live birth to their young, how do you explain monotremes? Monotremes are mammals that lay eggs like a reptile, rather than giving birth to live young. Living examples of these unusual animals can only be found in Australia and New Guinea today, though they used to be more widespread. A monotreme egg has less yolk for supplying nutrients than a reptile egg, and when a young echidna or platypus hatches, it is very tiny and less developed than its reptile counterpart. But monotreme babies are able to grow and thrive because their mothers stay with them, lactating to supply vital nutrients for their growth - just like other mammals!
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