Pictures of Capybara, not Chupacabra, Swimming in Water Treatment Plant

There was some confusion earlier when reports surfaced of pictures of chupacabra found in a water treatment plant, but it was actually a Capybara swimming at the facility in California. The Capybara is a giant rodent usually found in South America.

Known as the world’s largest rodent, the Capybara can weigh as much as 100 pounds. Some liken it to a very large guinea pig more than a giant rat. The animal likes to feed of a variety of plants, and apparently is a pretty good swimmer as can be seen in the pictures taken of it.

The Capybara actually spends most of its life in or near the water, and is capable of diving down and holding its breath for several minutes at a time. Its normal home is in parts of Central and South America, but this one is believed by officials to be an escaped pet of someone in the area.

There was another sighting of the animal about 2 years earlier. Officials from the California Department of Fish and Game believe that this is the same animal and not another one. The typical life span for the Capybara is only about four years.