Patagonian Cavy
Dolichotis patagonum
CLASS: Mammalia
ORDER: Rodentia
FAMILY: Caviidae
SIZE:
Length of head and body 27 - 30 inches; tail 1.5 inch; weight 20 - 33 lbs.
RANGE:
Patagonia (South America)
HABITAT:
Pampas
DIET:
Wild - Grasses and other plants
Zoo - Herbivore diet, lettuce and fruit
DESCRIPTION:
Reminds one of a hare because of its long ears and its long slender legs. Shape of claws also resembles that of a hoof. The coat is gray-brown.
FACTS:
Diurnal; terrestrial
Usually 3 - 4 travel together, but groups up to 40 have been seen.
Cavies walk when undisturbed; for speed they hop like rabbits, gallop, or strot (bounce on all 4 limbs at once) sometimes for long distances.
Swift runner and makes leaps of up to 6.5 feet.
Spends considerable time basking in sun.
Digs dens in the ground or else uses burrows of other animals such as armadillos.
White on inside of tail serves as an alarm signal when the memebers of the group are threatened. Cavies are ever on the alert for danger.
YOUNG:
Female prepares a nest inside the den in which she gives birth to 2 - 3 young after a gestation period of 80 - 90 days. Her 4 nipples are situated on the sides of her body enabling her to suckle her young sitting on the hind legs with the front legs extended forward. Offspring are independent after a few weeks and reach sexual maturity at about 2 months.
STATUS:
Not threatened
NOTE:
Also called Patagonian hare or mara. Cavies were once thought to be in the order lagomorpha with hares, rabbits, etc. They are now classified as rodents.
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