A capybara in France - correction, it is a coypu
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (344771)
Rockingham, Australia
June 26, 2019 2:28am CST
When we dropped our house-boat off in Dompierre-sur-Besbre, we saw this odd animal among the more common ducks, drakes and swans. The thing that looks like a huge rat is not a capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) as I thought but a coypu (Myocastor coypus). Like the capybara, it has its origins in South America.
Rather than edit the whole post, I'll leave the rest as is.
Capybara means ‘master of the grasses’ and its binomial name translates to ‘water-pig’.
Unfortunately, it has now established itself in aquatic habitats other than South America, including Florida and the central coast of California. In other travels we saw them in Leipzig where they are periodically culled, and in the Czech republic.
It has a stout, barrel-shaped body, weighing between 35 and 66 kg. It is covered in thin, coarse hair. They swim well and can stay submerged for up to five minutes. The teeth grow continually. Capybaras are popular in wildlife parks as they are gentle and easily tamed. Some pets are taught to wear a harness so they can be taken for walks.
The coypu has also been introduced into France and is regarded as an invasive pest. I'm sorry for leading you all astray.
30 people like this
28 responses
@owlwings (43907)
• Cambridge, England
26 Jun 19
Forgive me for being picky, but the animal in your photo is not a capybara. It has a tail, for one thing, which capybaras do not. It is actually a coypu, which was introduced to France in the 19th Century for its fur and has since become a pest. There was also a wild population in parts of the UK, which did a great deal of damage to river banks, but I believe that trapping has now eliminated them.
The Coypu is a large rodent and is the only member of the family Myocastoridae.It is not a native species in France and was introduced from South America in the 19th century for its fur, (as were American Mink and Musk rats from North America). Following e
2 people like this
@owlwings (43907)
• Cambridge, England
26 Jun 19
The capybara is quite a different animal and looks like an enormous guinea pig (to which it is related). It's about the size of a large dog. There's a good picture of it here:
CAPYBARA Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Origin: South America Also called chigüire, the capybara has a lifespan of 8 to 10 years and is the largest rodent in the world. The capybara’s gestation period is five months and babies are called pups. Capybaras are sem
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122453)
• Gainesville, Florida
27 Jun 19
Anything that looks like a rat and has a tail like a rat, is a rat in my book. And I hate rats. Boy do I hate rats.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (122453)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Jun 19
@JudyEv Either way, it looks like a giant rat and I don't want to have anything to do with it. Both of them would probably give me a heart attack if I ran into them!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344771)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Jun 19
@moffittjc 
The big, tough paint-ball hero but put a little rodent in front of him..... What are you? A man or a mouse? 
The big, tough paint-ball hero but put a little rodent in front of him..... What are you? A man or a mouse? 1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
26 Jun 19
they do look really impressive - never knew they were found in Europe now
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
28 Jun 19
@JudyEv it might be a capybara in disguise lol
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344771)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 Jun 19
@arthurchappell Could be - and the goose could be a swan. 
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344771)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun 19
It's from South America but we actually saw it in France.
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
26 Jun 19
I didn't know that capybaras were spreading...
I've only ever seen one in a zoo.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344771)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun 19
@SophiaMorros I could have let it go but it might come back to bite me as they say. How is the costuming going? When is the next play on or is it over already?
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
27 Jun 19
@JudyEv you could have never commented on the correction and I would likely never have been aware of the mistake .
.1 person likes this
It's my first time to hear of this animal. 
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
27 Jun 19
Yah that would be quite a sight, a giant rat on a lead, lol I don't think I want to be doing that.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61101)
• United States
27 Jun 19
@JudyEv lol Yes but something that looks like a rat???? I would take some convincing.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344771)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Jun 19
@BelleStarr I got the name wrong. This is actually a coypu which is like a big rat. The capybara looks a bit different - not really so rat-like.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
26 Jun 19
oh, these introduced species :( i hope that such's not upset the natural balance where they now reside. 'tis kinda cute though 'n would be quite the conversation starter to take one fer a walk. not that i'd wish one fer a pet... i don't think anyhow. i prefer critters wild 'n free fer the most part.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
27 Jun 19
@JudyEv yes ma'am, i read such :) 'd be interestin' to find if'n both were 'ntroduced by accident'r 'ntentionally?? so many invasive species 're due to the latter.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344771)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Jun 19
@crazyhorseladycx I think mostly it's deliberate although done perhaps for what is considered good reasons.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
27 Jun 19
What an unusual critter - cool that they can be tamed
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
28 Jun 19
@JudyEv Oh that makes sense, the edit, I mean
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (88405)
• Bangalore, India
26 Jun 19
I have first time heard of this animal. Never heard of taking a rat for a walk. 35 to 66 kg sounds so huge though this one looks quite tiny. I hope they are herbivores.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (88405)
• Bangalore, India
28 Jun 19
@JudyEv Oh! Ok. Thank you for clarification. I am not aware of either of the two.
@Starkinds (32712)
• India
26 Jun 19
I have no idea of this animal but thanks to leting me know.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344771)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun 19
I identified it wrongly. It's actually a coypu. Both are found now in Europe and regarded as pests.
@allknowing (139654)
• India
26 Jun 19
Seems a huge animal and surprising it is harmless.
1 person likes this
@Hate2Iron (15727)
• Canada
26 Jun 19
Well, I know it's not possible here, but I would love have one of these little guys to take for a walk. We see soooo many people taking their dogs for a walk. I would love to see their faces if I had one of these little guys!!!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344771)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun 19
We had friends here who took their pet lamb on a lead to walk the kids to school. That always got a few stares from people.
@RasmaSandra (82023)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Jun 19
That is a wonderful photo. I love seeing these animals in the zoo.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (117891)
• Anniston, Alabama
27 Jun 19
I know they look like giant rats! I seen someone shooting them in Alaska, they eat them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344771)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun 19
I think maybe it's beavers they eat in Alaska. I doubt these have gone so far north but I could be wrong.
@janethwayne (5191)
• Philippines
27 Jun 19
They look so sweet.I love the capture of this photo.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (344771)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun 19
It would be much bigger than a guinea pig but it does look a bit similar.
