Are capybaras monogamous?
Donald Begum-Coates
Donald Begum-Coates
Hello, regarding whether capybaras are "monogamous," the answer is: No.
They actually live a "polygynous" communal life. You can imagine them as a large family, which typically consists of the following members:
- A "boss" (the dominant male)
- Several "mates" (multiple females)
- Their offspring
- Sometimes a few "subordinates" (lower-ranking males)
In this large family, the strongest "boss" has priority in mating with all the female capybaras in the group, and most of the offspring are essentially his. He is responsible for protecting the entire family, driving away external male competitors and some predators.
So, while we always see capybaras lazily lounging with a bunch of companions, appearing peaceful and harmonious, their mating relationships are not a "one partner for life" model. Instead, it's more like a dominant male living with a "harem"!