The Capybara and the Beaver are the two largest rodents in the world. They are both semi-aquatic mammals, so they spend lots of time in the water and on land. They both have webbed feet, water-proof fur, and long front teeth. They eat similar diets. So why does the Capybara live in South America, while the Beaver lives in North America?
Appearance
Diet
Capybaras eat grasses, leaves, and aquatic plants, as well as melons, squashes, and grains. They have huge front teeth that they use to eat long grasses and weeds. To help with digestion, capybaras chew the cud. They also eat their own poop to get bacteria to help them digest all the fibre they get from the plants they eat.
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The beaver eats mainly leaves, bark, twigs, roots and aquatic plants, similar to the capybara. It also uses its huge front teeth to break down its food. Unlike capybaras, beavers don't chew the cud, or eat their own poop.
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Habitat
Beavers and Capybaras have a lot of similarities, because they live in similar ecosystems. But they each have adapted to the different factors in the ecosystem, including the changing seasons, amount of water, and what food is available.