Caviinae

Guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus )

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

The authentics guinea pigs ( Caviinae ) form a subfamily of the guinea pig ( Caviidae ) in the order of rodents ( Rodentia ).

They are small, compactly built animals with small ears and short limbs. The head-body length varies between 15 and 40 cm and weight between 100 and 1500 grams.

Actual guinea pigs are common in many parts of South America, where they inhabit a wide variety of habitats, from flat grasslands to in mountainous regions above 4000 meters above sea level. 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.

This group is divided into three genera with about 15 species:

• True guinea pig (Cavia ), this also includes the Common guinea pig (C. aperea ) and guinea pigs (C. porcellus )
• Yellowfang guinea pigs ( Galea )
• Dwarf guinea pigs ( Microcavia )