| “ | A big rodent. | ” |
| —In-game description | ||
Capybaras are huntable animals in Age of Empires III that appear on tropical maps like Orinoco and Amazonia. They provide a decent supply of Food early in the game but are later replaced by Mills due to the depletion of wildlife. Each Capybara yields 400 food.
Capybaras are also used as ammunition for Mediocre Bombard unit.
History[]
| “ | Scientific Name: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris Approx. Size: 4 ft. long, 80 lb. Diet: Grasses, bark, river plants The name capybara is a Tupi-Guarani word that means "grass eater." The capybara is the largest living rodent. It has sparse, bristly fur and partially webbed feet. They are excellent swimmers and can even sleep underwater, so long as their noses are above the surface. They live in herds that keep to riverbanks and water, hiding from predators by swimming away when they can. Catholic settlers in South America found the capybara and wondered if it was permissible to eat the strange water-loving animal during Lent (a time when no meat can be eaten, but fish is acceptable). The Church, fearing the loss of such distant and endangered followers, classified the capybara as a fish, a decision that has never been reversed. |
” |
Trivia[]
- Although they appear on Yucatán, Capybaras are native to South America, from Panama to North Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
- However, there is another species of large rodent native to east-central Mexico called lowland paca (Cuniculus paca), known by the Aztecs as tepezcuintle. It is smaller than capybaras, but it was consumed as food by prehispanic civilizations.
- Within the Age of Empires community, the Capybara became a trend prior to the release of the Definitive Edition (due to the Capybara comparison image impact on social media), having its own modified icons (as profile user images), and even being referenced in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and Age of Empires IV events.
Gallery[]
Capybaras in Amazonia
Capybara in the original version and Definitive Edition
Capybara image from the Compendium section
Capybaras in Yucatán in the Definitive Edition
Golden Capybara profile avatar from the first Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition Event (2021).
Capybara profile avatar from the Halloween Event (2021).
Capybara profile avatar from the Winter Wonderland Event (2021).
Capybara profile avatar from the Spring Event (2022).
Capybara profile avatar from the Ageiversary Event (2022).
