Post by Dawn - Admin on Oct 6, 2005 9:58:47 GMT
The guinea pig is part of the rodent order (rodentia) and belongs to the sub order of the caviomorpha. Within this family our gpig whose scientific name is cavia aperea porcellus has numerous relatives.
We are going to show some of them:
Family Caviidae - Guinea pigs
Genus Cavia
Cavia aperea tschudii
The "Tschudi-Guinea pig" has been named after the swiss scientist Tschudi. It is the wild relative of our normal guinea pig. Its home country is South-America, in the mountains. Being mostly active at night it is searching for food in the darkness and hides in little caves during the day. Its main food are plants. The animals build up a herd of several females and one leading male.
Cavia aperea
The wild guinea pig Aperea lives in South-America. It exists in also in herds (see above) in the north, west and south-east of the continent.
Genus Kerodon rupestris
The rock cavy, also named Moko, has approximately the same size as the wild guinea pig with a longer, narrower head. It prefers stony mountains and is an excellent climber. It gets up trees to eat their leaves.
Genus Dolichotis patagonum
The big mara lives in grassland in Argentina. It also eats grass and greens as all its relatives. It is active during day-time and sleeps in rock- or earthcaves. Because of its large hind legs the mara is a very good runner.
Further relatives are the weasel guinea pig Galea musteloides and the desert cavy Microcavia australis.
Galea musteloides
Family Hydrochaeridae - Capybara
Genus Hydrochaeris
The capybara is the biggest rodent on this planet. It can reach up to 50 kg and as big as 1,3 m. It lives from Central America to Argentina. Staying next to the water it is a good swimmer. Like its relatives it is also vegetarian.
Family Dasyproctidae - Agutis, Pacas
Genus Dasyproctidae aguti
Agoutis live in the northern South-America (Venezuela, East-Brasil). They are active during day-time and live in herds. The hair color "agouti" in gpig breeds is named after this animal.
Genus Aguti paca - Paca
The paca lives from Mexico to North-Argentina. It is a shy animal and prefers living alone. It is active during the night.
Family Myocastoridae
Genus Myocastor coypus - Nutria
The swamp beaver lives on shores of waters and builds there its caves. It likes to be in the water and is a very good swimmer.
Copyright D Salisbury
We are going to show some of them:
Family Caviidae - Guinea pigs
Genus Cavia
Cavia aperea tschudii
The "Tschudi-Guinea pig" has been named after the swiss scientist Tschudi. It is the wild relative of our normal guinea pig. Its home country is South-America, in the mountains. Being mostly active at night it is searching for food in the darkness and hides in little caves during the day. Its main food are plants. The animals build up a herd of several females and one leading male.
Cavia aperea
The wild guinea pig Aperea lives in South-America. It exists in also in herds (see above) in the north, west and south-east of the continent.
Genus Kerodon rupestris
The rock cavy, also named Moko, has approximately the same size as the wild guinea pig with a longer, narrower head. It prefers stony mountains and is an excellent climber. It gets up trees to eat their leaves.
Genus Dolichotis patagonum
The big mara lives in grassland in Argentina. It also eats grass and greens as all its relatives. It is active during day-time and sleeps in rock- or earthcaves. Because of its large hind legs the mara is a very good runner.
Further relatives are the weasel guinea pig Galea musteloides and the desert cavy Microcavia australis.
Galea musteloides
Family Hydrochaeridae - Capybara
Genus Hydrochaeris
The capybara is the biggest rodent on this planet. It can reach up to 50 kg and as big as 1,3 m. It lives from Central America to Argentina. Staying next to the water it is a good swimmer. Like its relatives it is also vegetarian.
Family Dasyproctidae - Agutis, Pacas
Genus Dasyproctidae aguti
Agoutis live in the northern South-America (Venezuela, East-Brasil). They are active during day-time and live in herds. The hair color "agouti" in gpig breeds is named after this animal.
Genus Aguti paca - Paca
The paca lives from Mexico to North-Argentina. It is a shy animal and prefers living alone. It is active during the night.
Family Myocastoridae
Genus Myocastor coypus - Nutria
The swamp beaver lives on shores of waters and builds there its caves. It likes to be in the water and is a very good swimmer.
Copyright D Salisbury
lol
