It was rather obvious that the capybaras pictured in #7 of this series were all looking in the same direction, intently.
Probably, their eyes were keenly focused on this post’s hero, who was basking on the wetland’s opposite bank.
S/he is a spectacled caiman – one of six living caiman species. (or three species – caimans’ classification is a contested/confusing field)
Caimans are South & Central America’s crocodilians.
They live in warm, watery places (in ever-diminishing numbers) & are more closely related to alligators than to crocodiles-proper.
Fish comprise the greater portion of their diet, but caimans also prey on young capybaras, & on sick/frail adults.
Only very rarely does a caiman attempt to “take” a healthy adult capybara, because it could well fight back, to lethal effect.
South American humans and South America’s “big cat” species almost certainly devour many more capybaras than do caimans.
Raptors & anacondas also target capybaras.
A particularly good Wikipedia entry – here – will tell you much more about capybaras.
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