Hydrochoerus fossil map
Where fossils of Hydrochoerus have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 9.4 million years ago to the present (Tortonian to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Caviidae |
| Named by | Brisson 1762 |
| Fossil records | 82 occurrences at 38 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, United States, Uruguay, Mexico, Venezuela, Peru, Panama, Colombia … |
| Rock formations | txn:42108, Nuapua, Touro Passo, Tarija, Sopas, Agua Blanca |
About Hydrochoerus
The genus Hydrochoerus contains two living (the lesser and greater capybaras) and three extinct species of rodents from South America, the Caribbean island of Grenada, California and Panama. Capybaras are the largest living rodents. The name of the genus is derived from Ancient Greek ὕδωρ (húdor), meaning "water", and χοῖρος (khoîros), meaning "pig".
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Hydrochoerus (revision 1374882830), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q902454.
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