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4. The Capybara's Unique Digestive System
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Different from many other animals, capybaras have an amazing digestive system. Herbivores, their food mostly consists of aquatic plants and grasses. Capybaras have developed a specialised digestive tract to quickly handle this fibrous diet. Like other rodents, they engage in coprophagy—that is, they consume their own feces—to maximise the nutrients from their meal. This mechanism lets them break down cellulose, a sophisticated carbohydrate present in plant material that many animals find challenging. Their digestive tract features a sizable cecum containing helpful bacteria that aid in the breakdown and fermenting of plant matter. Because of their efficient digestion, capybaras may survive on a diet inadequate for many other animals their weight.
