different between capybara vs coypu

English

Alternative forms

• capibara (dated)

Etymology

From Spanish capibara, from Portuguese capivara, from Old Tupi kapi'iûara, literally "grass eater".

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /kap??b????/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?kæpi?b???/, /?kæpi?b???/, /?kæpi?bæ??/

Noun

capybara (plural capybaras)

1. A semi-aquatic South American rodent, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, the largest living rodent.
   • 1876, William H. G. Kingston, The Three Lieutenants, 2010, page 430,

     “Our fires burned well,” continued Tom, “and we roasted our young capybara to perfection; we only wanted salt and pepper, and an onion or two to make it delicious. […] "

   • 1914, Theodore Roosevelt, Through the Brazilian Wilderness, 2004, page 53,

     It was tenanted by the small caymans and by capybaras - the largest known rodent, a huge aquatic guinea-pig, the size of a small sheep.

   • 2009, The Illustrated Atlas of Wildlife, page 106,

     The largest of all the 1,729 rodent species, the semi-aquatic capybara is extremely agile in the water, using its partly webbed toes like tiny paddles. Troops containing up to 20 animals live along riverbanks where young capybaras are sometimes preyed on by caimans.

Synonyms

• carpinchoe

Derived terms

• lesser capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius)

Translations

References

English

Wikispecies

Etymology

Spanish coipú, from Mapudungun koypu.

Noun

coypu (plural coypus or coypu)

1. A large, crepuscular, semiaquatic rodent (Myocastor coypus) resembling a large rat, having bright orange-yellow incisors, native to South America and introduced to Europe, Asia and North America, valued for its fur in eastern Europe and central Asia and considered a pest elsewhere.

Synonyms

• nutria (especially North America)

Translations