Pronunciation: [jˈapɒk] (IPA) 
Yapock is a noun that refers to a semiaquatic South American rodent. The spelling of this word may seem odd, but it is based on the IPA phonetic transcription /ˈjæpɒk/. The first syllable is pronounced with a "y" sound (/j/) followed by the vowel sound "a" (/æ/). The second syllable starts with the "p" sound (/p/) and ends with the "ock" sound (/ɒk/). This unique spelling helps non-native speakers accurately pronounce and spell the word.
Yapock is a noun that refers to a small aquatic mammal native to South America, scientifically known as Chironectes minimus. Also called the water opossum, it belongs to the family Didelphidae and is found primarily in the wetlands of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and other parts of the Amazon basin.
The yapock typically has a length of around 30–40 centimeters, with a long tail measuring about 24–30 centimeters. It possesses a dense coat of fur, which is water-repellent and helps it adapt to its aquatic lifestyle. Yapocks have webbed hind feet and partially webbed front feet, making them efficient swimmers and divers. Their snout is elongated and flexible, equipped with sharp teeth used for capturing and eating a diet consisting mainly of crustaceans, invertebrates, and small fish.
Yapocks are primarily nocturnal creatures, spending much of their time hunting for food in the water. They construct burrows near the water's edge and employ their tails as a rudder when swimming. Females have a unique marsupial pouch, located on their underbelly, in which they carry and nurse their young.
Due to habitat loss, pollution, and hunting, yapock populations have experienced a decline in recent decades. Conservation efforts are in place to protect these fascinating creatures and maintain their ecological balance within the wetland ecosystems they inhabit.
The word "Yapock" is derived from the indigenous South American Tupi-Guarani language. The Tupi word "iapok" or "iapóc" refers to a type of otter found in the Amazon rainforest, specifically the "Chironectes minimus". The word was later anglicized and spelled as "yapock" in English.
