Biometrical aspects of the capybara’s (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) body and intestines with emphasis on cecal development

Abstract

The rodent capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) has become a new protein source for the population, but it needs studies regarding its anatomy, mainly on its digestive physiology, since this aspect has a direct influence on improvements to species production. Studies have shown that the caecum is the largest of intestinal organs in this rodent and it presents the greatest capacity in relation to the other animals. For the purpose of the current study, 15 animals were divided into two groups: G1, consisting of 4 animals less than 12 months of age, and G2 consisting of 11 animals over 12 months of age. The following biometrical parameters were obtained: body weight, crown-rump length, thoracic perimeter, lengths of the small intestine, large intestine and caecum, volume of the caecum and the average weight of the eyes’ bulb lenses that determined the age of the animals. The measures of the capybara’s caecum were correlated with different morphologic and biometric aspects of this animal in different phases of growth, from birth to the adult stage. Most parameters revealed an increase when comparing the group of young animals with the adults ones, with the exception of the caecum volume that only presented significant growth within the first group. Positive correlation was only identified between the parameters for weight and CCR. It was verified that body growth persists after puberty, with the intestinal development occurring at low intensity in comparison with the young animals.

Keywords

• caecum
• morphological development
• capybara
• Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris