Hydrochoerus
| Hydrochoerus | |
|---|---|
| H. hydrochaeris with a cattle tyrant on its back | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Caviidae |
| Subfamily: | Hydrochoerinae |
| Genus: | Hydrochoerus Brisson, 1762 |
| Type species | |
| Sus hydrochaeris Linnaeus, 1766
| |
| Species | |
| |
| Ranges of capybara (green) and lesser capybara (red) | |
The genus Hydrochoerus contains two living (the lesser and greater capybaras) and three extinct species of rodents from South America, the Caribbean island of Grenada, California and Panama. Capybaras are the largest living rodents. The name of the genus is derived from Ancient Greek ὕδωρ (húdor), meaning "water", and χοῖρος (khoîros), meaning "pig".