List of caviids
Caviidae is a family of mammals in the order Rodentia and part of the Caviomorpha parvorder. Members of this family are called caviids and include guinea pigs, cavies, maras, and capybaras. They are found in South America and the southeast tip of Central America, primarily in forests, shrublands, grasslands, and savannas, though some species can be found in wetlands or rocky areas. They range in size from Shipton's mountain cavy, at 19 cm (7 in), to the capybara, at 134 cm (53 in) plus a 2 cm (1 in) tail. Caviids are herbivores and eat a wide variety of vegetation, primarily grass and leaves. Almost no caviids have population estimates, though the Santa Catarina's guinea pig is categorized as critically endangered with a population of fewer than sixty mature adults.
The twenty-one extant species of Caviidae are divided into three subfamilies: Caviinae, containing fifteen species of guinea pigs and cavies in three genera; Dolichotinae, containing a single genus of two mara species; and Hydrochoerinae, containing four capybara and cavy species in two genera. A few extinct prehistoric caviid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries, the exact number and categorization is not fixed.[1]
Conventions
| Conservation status | |
|---|---|
| EX | Extinct (0 species) |
| EW | Extinct in the wild (0 species) |
| CR | Critically endangered (1 species) |
| EN | Endangered (0 species) |
| VU | Vulnerable (0 species) |
| NT | Near threatened (1 species) |
| LC | Least concern (13 species) |
| Other categories | |
| DD | Data deficient (5 species) |
| NE | Not evaluated (1 species) |
The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the caviid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.
Classification
Caviidae is a family consisting of twenty-one species in six genera. These genera are divided between three subfamilies: Caviinae, containing guinea pigs and cavies; Dolichotinae, or the maras; and Hydrochoerinae, containing capybara and cavy species.
Family Caviidae
- Subfamily Caviinae
- Genus Cavia (guinea pigs): seven species
- Genus Galea (yellow-toothed cavies): five species
- Genus Microcavia (mountain cavies): three species
- Subfamily Dolichotinae
- Genus Dolichotis (maras): two species
- Subfamily Hydrochoerinae
- Genus Hydrochoerus (capybaras): two species
- Genus Kerodon (rock cavies): two species
Caviids
The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists.[3]
Subfamily Caviinae
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazilian guinea pig
|
C. aperea Erxleben, 1777 Five subspecies
|
Northern, central, and eastern South America |
Size: 21–39 cm (8–15 in) long, with no tail[4] Habitat: Savanna, grassland, and rocky areas[5] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation[6] |
LC
|
| Greater guinea pig
|
C. magna Ximénez, 1980 |
Southern Brazil and Uruguay |
Size: 22–34 cm (9–13 in) long, with no tail[4] Habitat: Forest and grassland[7] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation[6] |
LC
|
| Guinea pig
|
C. porcellus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
Worldwide, primarily western South America | Size: 20–25 cm (8–10 in) long, with no tail[8] Habitat: Domesticated; wild guinea pigs are found in grasslands[9] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation[6] |
NE
|
| Montane guinea pig
|
C. tschudii Fitzinger, 1867 Six subspecies
|
Western South America |
Size: 22–27 cm (9–11 in) long, with no tail[4] Habitat: Forest, grassland, and inland wetlands[11] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation[6] |
LC
|
| Sacha guinea pig
|
C. patzelti Schliemann, 1982 |
Ecuador |
Size: 28–29 cm (11 in) long, with no tail[4] Habitat: Grassland[12] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation[6] |
DD
|
| Santa Catarina's guinea pig
|
C. intermedia Cherem, Olimpio, & Trianón, 1999 |
Moleques do Sul Archipelago in southern Brazil |
Size: 27–31 cm (11–12 in) long, with no tail[4] Habitat: Grassland[13] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation[6] |
CR
|
| Shiny guinea pig
|
C. fulgida Wagler, 1831 |
Southeastern Brazil |
Size: 22–27 cm (9–11 in) long, with no tail[4] Habitat: Forest and grassland[14] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation[6] |
LC
|
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brazilian yellow-toothed cavy
|
G. flavidens Brandt, 1835 |
Central Brazil |
Size: 20–23 cm (8–9 in) long, with no tail[4] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas[15] Diet: Grass, forbs, and other vegetation[16] |
LC
|
| Common yellow-toothed cavy
|
G. musteloides Meyen, 1832 Five subspecies
|
Western South America |
Size: Unknown, with no tail[4] Habitat: Shrubland and grassland[17] Diet: Grass, forbs, and other vegetation[16] |
DD
|
| Lowland yellow-toothed cavy
|
G. leucoblephara (Burmeister, 1861) |
Southwestern South America |
Size: 19–23 cm (7–9 in) long, with no tail[4] Habitat: Grassland[18] Diet: Grass, forbs, and other vegetation[16] |
LC
|
| Southern highland yellow-toothed cavy
|
G. comes Thomas, 1919 |
Western South America |
Size: About 24 cm (9 in) long, with no tail[4] Habitat: Shrubland[19] Diet: Grass, forbs, and other vegetation[16] |
DD
|
| Spix's yellow-toothed cavy
|
G. spixii Wagler, 1831 Three subspecies
|
Eastern Brazil |
Size: 22–23 cm (9 in), with no tail[4] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas[20] Diet: Grass, forbs, and other vegetation[16] |
LC
|
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andean mountain cavy
|
M. niata (Thomas, 1898) Two subspecies
|
Western South America |
Size: 19–20 cm (7–8 in) long, with no tail[21] Habitat: Grassland and inland wetlands[22] Diet: Leaves, as well as fruit[23] |
LC
|
| Shipton's mountain cavy
|
M. shiptoni (Thomas, 1925) |
Northern Argentina |
Size: About 19 cm (7 in) long, with no tail[21] Habitat: Grassland and rocky areas[24] Diet: Leaves, as well as fruit[23] |
LC
|
| Southern mountain cavy
|
M. australis (Geoffroy & d'Orbigny, 1833) Three subspecies
|
Southern South America |
Size: Unknown, with no tail[21] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and desert[25] Diet: Leaves, as well as fruit[23] |
LC
|
Subfamily Dolichotinae
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chacoan mara
|
D. salinicola Burmeister, 1876 |
Western South America |
Size: 42–48 cm (17–19 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail[21] Habitat: Savanna[26] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation[27] |
LC
|
| Patagonian mara
|
D. patagonum (Zimmermann, 1780) Two subspecies
|
Argentina |
Size: 60–80 cm (24–31 in) long, plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail[21] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland[28] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation[27] |
NT
|
Subfamily Hydrochoerinae
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capybara
|
H. hydrochaeris (Linnaeus, 1766) |
South America |
Size: 107–134 cm (42–53 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail[21] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and inland wetlands[29] Diet: Grass, as well as aquatic plants, grains, melons, and squashes[30] |
LC
|
| Lesser capybara
|
H. isthmius Goldman, 1912 |
Northwestern South America and Panama |
Size: About 102 cm (40 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail[21] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands[31] Diet: Grass, as well as aquatic plants, grains, melons, and squashes[30] |
DD
|
| Common name | Scientific name and subspecies | Range | Size and ecology | IUCN status and estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acrobatic cavy
|
K. acrobata Moojen, Locks, & Langguth, 1997 |
Central Brazil |
Size: About 38 cm (15 in) long, with no tail[21] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and rocky areas[32] Diet: Leaves and other tree vegetation[6] |
DD
|
| Rock cavy
|
K. rupestris (Wied-Neuwied, 1820) |
Eastern Brazil |
Size: About 30 cm (12 in) long, with no tail[21] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas[33] Diet: Leaves, flowers, buds, bark and occasionally fruit[33] |
LC
|
References
- ^ "Fossilworks: Caviidae". Paleobiology Database. University of Wisconsin–Madison. Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ Honeycutt, pp. 61–81
- ^ Wilson, Reeder, pp. 1552-1555
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, p. 355
- ^ a b Bernal, N. (2016). "Cavia aperea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T86257782A22189256. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T86257782A22189256.en.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Nowak, p. 1669
- ^ a b Gonzalez, E. (2016). "Cavia magna". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T4066A22188832. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T4066A22188832.en.
- ^ "Guinea pig". Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. December 17, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
- ^ Wagner; Manning, pp. 31–32
- ^ Buela, L.; Cuenca, M.; Sarmiento, J.; Peláez, D.; Mendoza, A. Y.; Cabrera, E. J.; Yarzábal, L. A. (2022). "Role of Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) Raised as Livestock in Ecuadorian Andes as Reservoirs of Zoonotic Yeasts". Animals. 12 (24): 3449. doi:10.3390/ani12243449. PMC 9774381. PMID 36552369.
- ^ a b Dunnum, J.; Teta, P. (2016). "Cavia tschudii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T4068A22188991. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T4068A22188991.en.
- ^ a b Roach, N. (2016). "Cavia patzelti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T86263590A86263599. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T86263590A86263599.en.
- ^ a b Roach, N. (2016). "Cavia intermedia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T136520A22189125. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136520A22189125.en.
- ^ a b Amori, G. (2016). "Cavia fulgida". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T4065A22188918. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T4065A22188918.en.
- ^ a b Weksler, M. . (2016). "Galea flavidens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T8823A22189525. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T8823A22189525.en.
- ^ a b c d e Nowak, p. 1667
- ^ a b Roach, N. (2016). "Galea musteloides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T86226097A22189593. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T86226097A22189593.en.
- ^ a b Roach, N. (2016). "Galea leucoblephara". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T86236150A86236159. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T86236150A86236159.en.
- ^ a b Roach, N. (2016). "Galea comes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T86235821A86235993. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T86235821A86235993.en.
- ^ a b Catzeflis, F.; Patton J., Percequillo; A., Weksler; M. (2016). "Galea spixii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T8825A22189453. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T8825A22189453.en.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, p. 356
- ^ a b Bernal, N.; Dunnum, J. (2016). "Microcavia niata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T13320A22189752. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T13320A22189752.en.
- ^ a b c Nowak, p. 1665
- ^ a b Lacher, T.; Roach, N. (2020). "Microcavia shiptoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T13321A22189676. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T13321A22189676.en.
- ^ a b Roach, N. . (2016). "Microcavia australis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T13319A22189827. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T13319A22189827.en.
- ^ a b Bernal, N. (2016). "Dolichotis salinicola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T6786A22190451. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T6786A22190451.en.
- ^ a b Nowak, p. 1670
- ^ a b Roach, N. . (2016). "Dolichotis patagonum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T6785A22190337. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T6785A22190337.en.
- ^ a b Reid, F. (2016). "Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T10300A22190005. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T10300A22190005.en.
- ^ a b Nowak, p. 1673
- ^ a b Delgado, C.; Emmons, L. . (2016). "Hydrochoerus isthmius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T136277A22189896. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136277A22189896.en.
- ^ a b Roach, N. (2016). "Kerodon acrobata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T136222A22190183. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136222A22190183.en.
- ^ a b c Catzeflis, F.; Patton J., Percequillo; A., Weksler; M. (2016). "Kerodon rupestris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T10988A22190269. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T10988A22190269.en.
Sources
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- Honeycutt, Rodney L. (2013). Capybara. Springer Publishing. doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-4000-0_3. ISBN 978-1-4614-3999-8.
- Nowak, Ronald M. (1999). Walker's Mammals of the World. Vol. 2 (6th ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-5789-8.
- Wagner, Joseph E.; Manning, Patrick J. (1976). The Biology of the Guinea Pig. Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-730050-4.
- Woods, Charles A.; Kilpatrick, C. William (2005). Wilson, Don E.; Reeder, DeeAnn M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World. Vol. 2 (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0.