There are two extant species of Hydrochoerus: Hydrochoerus isthmius, the lesser or Panamanian capybara, and the genotype species H. hydrochaeris. The latter is the more common species of capybara, found throughout most of South America, whereas the other is restricted to the northwestern side of the Andes ranging into Panama. However, H. hydrochaeris doesn't seem to have a useful common name to distinguish it from H. isthmius. It's referred to as the "capybara", but both species are capybaras, and it's never referred to as the "common capybara", "greater capybara", or "southern capybara". H. hydrochaeris is also much larger than H. isthmius (nearly twice the size of the latter species).
I am making a figure I intend to use to show to an educated layman audience, and am using capybara bones as an extant scale. I am trying to use the common name to not confuse my audience, but at the same time I want to make it clear I am referring to H. hydrochaeris and not H. isthmius so there is no confusion for people who are more familiar with scientific names. Given this, what would be the correct common name to refer to H. hydrochaeris such that I do not confuse my audience?
Dear Russell Engelman , Javier Nori, and Gabriel Laufer,
I think that James Des Lauriers is correct in his suggestion. Common names are just common names and we should use them in a more "instrumental" way possible. Thinking of Ornithology and the very diverse similar birds in some families such as Tyrannidae, the researchers just propose common instrumental names that are rarely (or never) used by other people outside the Ornithology or Bird Watching clubs. After some time, these instrumental names are more familiar for everyone and become more and more used. The use of the names "lesser capybara" and "common capybara" can be also useful. In Brazil, we use "capivara" in all country, where only the "greater" species occurs. Cheers,
Hello Russell; In explaining your question you made up two perfectly satisfactory common names. Call the little one the "Isthmus Capybara" and the larger one the "Greater Capybara". The first name hints at the technical name and the second one hints at the size difference. Since common names have no formal status, you can do what seems useful. Enjoy your talk! Jim Des Lauriers
In Argentina, de common name of H. hydrochaeris is "Carpincho", however, it is also known as Capybara or Greather Capybara. Good luck! Javier.
Javier Nori, Gabriel Laufer
But in Argentina, wouldn't people there use the term carpincho to refer to H. isthmius as well, especially given H. isthmius isn't usually found in the region? Or do they use a different term?
Dear Russell Engelman , Javier Nori, and Gabriel Laufer,
I think that James Des Lauriers is correct in his suggestion. Common names are just common names and we should use them in a more "instrumental" way possible. Thinking of Ornithology and the very diverse similar birds in some families such as Tyrannidae, the researchers just propose common instrumental names that are rarely (or never) used by other people outside the Ornithology or Bird Watching clubs. After some time, these instrumental names are more familiar for everyone and become more and more used. The use of the names "lesser capybara" and "common capybara" can be also useful. In Brazil, we use "capivara" in all country, where only the "greater" species occurs. Cheers,
In Brazil: "Capivara" all country, and Carpincho in South.
I think that calling H. isthmius "lesser capybara" or "Panamanian capybara", and H, hydrochaeris "capybara" is thecorrect form. calling H. hydrochaeris "greater capybara" or "southern capybara" is only inventing names that maybe seems more correct, but do not represent real common names.
if you want to be extre careful, you can say "capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris)" and then no one will get confused.
I hope this is helpful
Depending on where your lectures would be held, or the location of your target audience, referring to H. hydrochaeris (independently isthmus or not) when presenting to the local public, demands some research on what terms are being used in their colloquialism, thus, "common name", rather than its taxonomic or scientific name. It would be interesting to further explain, that in many cultures misnomers are often being used. For example the German name: "Wasserschwein", meaning Water Pig, even the scientific term of greek origin "Hydro" = water and "choerus" = hog (pig), both referring to "Sus scrofa", which is a completely different species altogether.
In Venezuela is Chiguire and in Colombia Chiguiro. We dont use Capibara or Carpincho...
In Peru, it´s called ronsoco and some people say capibara as well. For an English-speaking audience it would be appropriate to call them: lesser capybara and greater capybara.
As Ezequiel points out in Venezuela to the species H.h. it is called Chigüire. But H.i is called Piropiro in the Lake Maracaibo basin in the west of the country.
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris is a giant cavy rodent, native to South America and is variously named. It is called capivara in Brazil, fercho in Colombia and Venezuela, carpincho in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay and ronsoco in Peru.However, capybara is the preferred name.
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