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Growth and dispersal of capybaras ( Hydrochaeris * hydrochaeris ) in the Llanos of Venezuela
Author(s) -
Herrera Emilio A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1992.tb04610.x
Subject(s) - biological dispersal , biology , home range , range (aeronautics) , competition (biology) , juvenile , ecology , territoriality , zoology , demography , population , habitat , materials science , sociology , composite material
Growth rates and dispersal patterns of capybaras, Hydrochaeris * hydrochaeris , were studied in a ranch in the Venezuelan seasonally flooded savannas by first marking juvenile animals at specific locations in March–April 1989 and then, on two occasions the following year (February and May 1990), searching a wide area for recaptures. Animals grew a mean 2.8 kg per month in the 10 months between the first and second captures and apparently lost weight over the next three months, possibly due to water scarcity. From 22 recaptures, median dispersal distance was 3366 m, about six times the average home range width. Maximum dispersal distance was 5600 m and minimum was 0. There were no differences between males and females in dispersal distances. A group of three males and three females apparently dispersed together. Competition for resources—water and grass—under a social system involving group‐living and territoriality is proposed as the cause of the patterns observed. No correlation was found between distance dispersed and initial and final weight or weight gain. Capybaras appeared to disperse predominantly north or south, possibly in order to reduce the chances of meeting established groups and to increase the probability of finding a stream, since all streams in the region run approximately west‐east.