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Baby Capybara Yawns and Falls Asleep Under His Mother's Watchful Eye
WildCreaturesThe capybara is the largest living rodent, native to South America. The capybara inhabits savannas and dense forests, and lives near bodies of water. It is a highly social species and can be found in groups as large as one hundred individuals, but usually live in groups of 10–20 individuals. The capybara has a heavy, barrel-shaped body and short head, with reddish-brown fur on the upper part of its body that turns yellowish-brown underneath. Adult capybaras grow to 106 to 134 cm (3.48 to 4.40 ft) in length, stand 50 to 62 cm (20 to 24 in) tall at the shoulder. They typically weigh 35 to 66 kg (77 to 146 lb). The record weight for a capybara is 91kg (201lbs). Capybaras are herbivores, grazing mainly on grasses and aquatic plants, as well as fruit and tree bark. Capybaras eat their own feces as a source of bacterial gut flora, to help digest the cellulose in the grass that forms their normal diet, and to extract the maximum protein and vitamins from their food. Their teeth grow continuously to compensate for the wear produced by grinding as they chew their food. The maximum lifespan of the capybara is 8 to 10 years, but in the wild capybaras usually do not live longer than four years because of predation from South American big cats such as jaguars and cougars and from harpy eagles, caimans, green anacondas and piranhas. Baby capybara are milk-bandits, suckling from any lactating female in the herd. These capybaras were filmed in the wilds of the Pantanal in Brazil. They are one of the world's most beloved animals.5.25K views 3 comments -
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Majestic giraffes peacefully eating on the African plain are a sight to behold
WildCreaturesThe giraffe is one of the most beautiful and majestic animals on earth. It holds the title as the tallest terrestrial animal and the largest ruminant on the planet. It's long neck and striking pattern make it instantly recognized. Giraffes reach a height of 5.7 m (18.7 ft). Fully grown females reach a weight of 1,192 kg (2,628 lb) Females are slightly smaller. Giraffes hold several titles including being the animal with the longest tongue and the strongest tongue. Giraffes have uniquely adapted skull bones to allow them to bend their head back so they can access leaves directly above them. When drought strikes a region, the giraffe has very little competition as it easily reaches the highest foliage. But researchers believe that there is also a possibility that the giraffes with the longest necks require more nutrients than their counterparts, placing them at a disadvantage. The bone structure in a giraffe's head even gives them a very powerful weapon. The bony horns on the top of their head is used in combat with other giraffes to establish dominance. It is also used to deliver extremely powerful blows to predators such as lions and hyenas. With their long neck, they can swing their head like a club. Giraffes are fast runners, being able to maintain speeds of 50km/h (31mph) over great distances and up to 60km/h (37mph) for shorter sprints. This allows them to outrun many predators. A giraffe has a very large heart in comparison with other animals. It also possesses extremely strong esophageal muscles to allow food to pass back up to the mouth for rumination. Giraffes are truly a marvel of nature and a sight to behold. These magnificent animals are part of a wild herd in Kenya, Africa. A close look at a giraffe casually eating in the wild is something that will never be forgotten.1.58K views 1 comment