The world's largest rodent is abundant along rivers and in lakes in the Pantanal, so there was a lot of opportunity to enjoy Capybara Hydochaeris hydrochaeris (above, right, next two below). Some live in harems dominated by a large male (below), but others can be found singly (above & right). They graze near water, and provide convenient perches for birds like Cattle Tyrant (second below). The nose, ears, and eyes are placed high on the head, allowed them to swim mostly submerged. They have partially webbed toes and are very good swimmers.

We encountered another rodent in the Pantanal inside riverine forests — Azara's Agouti Dasyprocta azarae — but it was always at dusk; I didn't manage any photos.

Deer and peccaries are among the even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla). We had fine views of three species of deer on the trip: Pampas Deer Ozotoceros bezoarticus (left, common in Emas NP); the much smaller Red Brocket Deer Mazama americana (below left, photo'd in the Pantanal); and the very large Marsh Deer Blastocerus dichotomus (below right; that's a Smooth-billed Ani riding on the back). Marcelo saw a Gray Brocket Deer M. gouazoubira while spotlighting, but we never got decent views.

Pampas Deer reminded us of the Black-tailed Deer in our backyard in Pacific Grove. Marsh Deer is an endangered species, limited to extensive swamplands in central South America. It is the largest deer in the Neotropics. Indeed, it is included among the Pantanal "Big Five:" Jaguar, Giant Otter, Giant Anteater, Tapir and Marsh Deer. We saw all "big five" on our trip, although not all were in the Pantanal.