Male/Female Relationships

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Capybaras are polygynous; one dominant male mate s with multiple females. Why polygyny? The benefits gleaned by the female in this case are multiple: safety in numbers and access to food, water and nesting. Reproductive success generally depends on the number of breeding females that the dominant male has access to in the group.

Sexual Activity: Reproduction occurs year round with group size reaching a peak in July-August due to recent births (Alho et. al., 1987). Copulation almost always occurs in an aquatic environment (Lord, 1994). During a sexual pursuit, a female initiates the ritual with "whistle-like" vocalization from her nostrils (Lord, 1994). When the male, hears this, he approaches towards the female. The female swims away from the male usually stopping when their feet can touch the bottom (Lord, 1994). At this time, the male mounts and copulation barely occurs (Lord, 1994). This performance is repeated multiple times ending only when the female finally retreats from the male (Lord, 1994). Sometimes subordinate males try to mount the female if the dominant male is "distracted" (Herrera et al.,1993). Dominant males almost always interfered with the sexual pursuits involving the subordinate males (Herrera et al., 1993)

Gestation has been estimated to be around 150 days with the number of offspring increasing with the number of copulations (Lopez-Barbella, 1987).

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