Caviidae

Big Pampashase ( Dolichotis patagonum )

The guinea pig ( Caviidae ) are a family from the order of rodents. They consisted of three externally very different subfamilies: the authentics guinea pigs ( Caviinae ) with the known in Central Europe guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus ), the Maras ( Dolichotinae ) and the Hydrochoerinae to which the Capybara ( Capybara ) the largest living rodent in the world counts.

General

Guinea pigs are common in many parts of South America, where they colonize a wide variety of habitats, from flat grasslands to in mountainous regions above 4000 meters. In the dense rain forest, however, they are missing. These animals reach depending on a head -body length from 20 to 130 centimeters and a weight of 0.1 ( dwarf guinea pig) to 80 ( Capybara ) kilograms. During the authentics guinea pigs and capybaras are very compact animals with shorter limbs, similar to the Maras with her long legs and big ears rather the hare. The close relationship between the two groups is especially noticeable in details in the skull structure and teeth.

Guinea pigs are diurnal and usually hold, despite adverse climatic conditions in the higher regions of their range, not hibernate. Even Dug or assumed by other animals burrows serve them as a shelter. There are social animals that live together in pairs ( for example, the Münstersche guinea pig) or groups with one male, several females and young animals generally. Some species have developed complex social structures.

Guinea pigs are herbivores, which are organized according to the type and habitat variety of plant parts to be, for example, fruits, grasses and seeds. Since they are among the few vertebrates that can not make it the essential vitamin C, they have to take it with food.

The gestation period is 50 to 150, depending on the genus days. The longest she's with capybaras and Maras, in the smaller species it is 50 to 70 days compared to related families relatively short. The young are well developed with fur, teeth and open eyes born and belong to the Nestflüchtern.

The vision of the guinea pig is dichromatic, that is, they can as many mammals distinguish blue from green (but not red).

As for people is ascorbic acid for guinea pig a vitamin, while it does not have to be supplied with the essential food for many mammals.

While guinea pigs are popular pets in the German-speaking children, they are a food in South America.

Etymology

The German name of the animals was probably because Spanish sailors named the animals brought by sea to Europe and also their spoken language ( Quiekgeräusche ) to the recalls of domestic pigs. The English name "guinea pig" is also the reference to the pig ( " pig" ) included. " Guinea " ( German: Guinee ) is an old English coin. The sailors, who at that time these animals brought back from their voyages over, allegedly sold the animals for a guinea. Another theory is derived from the English name of the South American country of Guyana. From the Quechua -speaking population of Latin America, the animals were referred to as " quwi " (or " qowi " ), in the South American Spanish they are called today " cuy ". In English, meanwhile the name " cavy " preferred, as "guinea pig" is also used to refer to guinea pigs.

System

Guinea pigs together with agoutis and Acouchis ( Dasyproctidae ), Pacas ( Cuniculidae ) and the Pacarana ( Dinomydiae ) the superfamily of guinea pig -like ( Cavioidea ) within the partial order of the guinea pig relatives ( Caviomorpha ). The capybara is often performed in a separate family, the giant rodents ( Hydrochoeridae ), but genetic studies indicate that the mountain guinea pig is more closely related to the capybara as the authentics guinea pigs. The nomenclature used here follows Wilson & Reeder ( 2005).

The following subfamilies and genera are distinguished:

• Actual guinea pigs ( Caviinae ) True guinea pig (Cavia )
• Yellowfang guinea pigs ( Galea )
• Dwarf guinea pigs ( Microcavia )

• Maras Maras or ( Dolichotis )

• Capybara ( Hydrochoerus )
• Mountain guinea pigs ( Kerodon )