Watch This Capybara Catch a Ride Down the River on a Crocodile’s Back

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This unbelievable video posted by Travis Wood Shorts shows a capybara VIP and its crocodilian entourage floating down the river. The capybara casually rides on the back of one crocodile, closely followed by another. Looking to the right of the frame, three small heads, possibly more capybaras, appear in the water behind the second crocodile. However, crocodiles are opportunistic predators, so how is this possible? Are the capybaras in danger of being eaten by crocodiles? Read on to find out.

Habitat Overlap

There’s some debate online as to whether this crocodilian taxi is a crocodile, alligator, or caiman. The best way to determine this capybara’s reptile ride is to look at how their habitats overlap. Capybaras are semi-aquatic mammals that live in grassy lowland regions near rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, marshes, and swamps in Central and South America. They prefer freshwater habitats, but they can also be found near brackish water.

Although alligators and capybaras prefer similar water sources, American alligators are only found in the southeastern U.S. However, some crocodile and alligator species live in Central and South America. The American crocodile, the Orinoco crocodile, and multiple species of caiman live in the same regions as capybaras. Yet only the Orinoco crocodile and caimans prefer freshwater like the capybaras. In fact, caiman are a major threat to capybaras in the water. Even though capybaras can be a source of food for Orinoco crocodiles, they aren’t a main item on the crocodile’s menu.

Water Pigs

Although capybaras are the world’s largest rodents, they have earned the nickname, “water pigs” partially due to their love for water. They were once thought to be a type of pig. Their genus name, Hydrochoerus, is derived from the Greek words “hydro,” for water, and “choiros,” for pig. As mentioned above, capybaras are semi-aquatic, which means they spend part of their lives in the water.

Capybaras are well-adapted to a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Even though their primary land predator, the jaguar, does not avoid water, these big cats don’t have the same advantages in the water as capybaras. Capybaras are excellent swimmers and good divers, with webbed feet to help them paddle. Capybaras’ eyes, ears, and nostrils are higher on their heads so they can stay alert while the rest of their body remains submerged underwater. They can also hold their breath for up to five minutes. So, when frightened, it’s no surprise capybaras instinctively run for the water.

How Do Crocodiles and Capybaras Peacefully Co-Exist?

It’s hard to understand why crocodiles exhibit such a deviation in behavior. Especially since they are known for preying on anything that strays into their paths. Some have speculated crocodiles are unable to eat capybaras due to the capybara’s size, which is around 70-150 pounds for an adult animal. As some crocodiles can take down prey the size of cattle and buffalo, the capybara’s size is unlikely to be a deterrent. Not to mention that caimans are generally much smaller than crocodiles, and capybaras are a caiman’s meal of choice.

Others have suggested capybaras’ social natures make it hard to single an animal out. Some claim capybaras avoid being eaten by quickly jumping into the water and swimming away. However, capybaras can only swim up to around 5mph, while crocodiles can reach speeds in excess of 15mph. Some experts believe that an abundance of food, plus the capybara’s docile nature, is part of why they are not a target. Capybaras are quiet, they tend to move slowly and are not a threat. So it is believed that their calm demeanor does not trigger crocodiles’ predator reflexes.

Another theory is that crocodiles are willing to give capybaras a lift, or lounge with them on a nearby river bank because these warm-blooded mammals can assist with crocodiles’ thermoregulation. The relationship between capybaras and crocodiles is not yet fully understood, but crocodiles can and do eat capybaras when they want to. For some unknown reason, they just generally choose not to.