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CAPY AS LARRY

Heartwarming pictures capture giant rodent capybaras cuddling up with cats, monkeys and even crocodiles

The world's largest - and friendliest - rodent is found throughout South America

THESE are the pictures that prove the world's largest rodent also has the animal kingdom's biggest heart.

The cute capybara is happy to spend its time socialising with birds, cats, monkeys and even CROCODILES.

Capybaras are the world's largest rodent... and they have proved to have a big heart too in this set of photographs
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Capybaras are the world's largest rodent... and they have proved to have a big heart too in this set of photographsCredit: BarcroBarcroft
One of the giant rodents carries a monkey on its back
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One of the giant rodents carries a monkey on its backCredit: Getty Images
The South American animal has been snapped socialising with several different species of animal
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The South American animal has been snapped socialising with several different species of animalCredit: Getty Images
Among the most hair-raising was a riverside jolly with a group of caiman crocodiles in Paraguay
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Among the most hair-raising was a riverside jolly with a group of caiman crocodiles in ParaguayCredit: Alamy

Growing up to two feet long and weighing in at up to 70kg, the South American natives are by far the world's largest rodents.

And remarkably they are closely-related to the hamster.

Unlike their furry cousins, capybaras show no fear when hanging out with some of their predatory peers.

One snap captures a male resting on the banks of a Paraguay river alongside a group caiman crocodiles.

Other heart-warming pictures show the capybara carrying a baby monkey and nuzzling its neck into a cat.

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Quite the performer, one rodent even performs for a travelling zoo in New York, standing before a microphone on a makeshift stage.

Capybaras are widespread throughout South America and are not considered endangered.

Several have been spotted in Florida and California after escaping from captivity.

Nifty on their feet, the agile rodent can run at speeds of up to 22mph - as fast as Real Madrid football icon Cristiano Ronaldo.

A capybara sits unmoved as a stork wanders past its grassy resting spot
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A capybara sits unmoved as a stork wanders past its grassy resting spotCredit: Getty Images
It even allows a bird to rest on its head in this snap taken in the rainforest of Brazil
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It even allows a bird to rest on its head in this snap taken in the rainforest of BrazilCredit: Getty Images
Two young capybaras sit by their mother on the banks of a river near Pantanal, Brazil
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Two young capybaras sit by their mother on the banks of a river near Pantanal, BrazilCredit: Alamy
The rodents even prove friendly with humans, with one eating watermelon given to it by children at a Japanese zoo
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The rodents even prove friendly with humans, with one eating watermelon given to it by children at a Japanese zooCredit: The Asahi Shimbun
One capybara was recruited by a travelling zoo as it performed to an audience in New York
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One capybara was recruited by a travelling zoo as it performed to an audience in New YorkCredit: Getty Images

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