Patagonian Cavy
Order Rodentia
Family Caviidae
Dolichotis patagonum
Conservation
Status:
Thought to be declining, but not formally listed
by USFWS or CITES
Description:
Cavies are large rodents. Their
closest relative is the guinea pig, but they resemble hares or miniature
antelope. They can weigh up to
35 pounds and be 2 ½ feet in length.
Their fur is gray or brown, with lighter brown to white on the
underparts and white on the rump, similar to the rump patches of many deer
and antelope. They have long
legs and large ears. Their
hind feet have three toes, each with a large hoof-like claw.
Their front feet have 4 toes with sharp claws for digging.
Range:
Patagonia
in
Habitat:
Arid grasslands
Diet:
In the wild, they eat grasses and other plants.
In the zoo, they browse on the grass that grows naturally in their
yard. They also eat ADF 16
pellets and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Life
Cycle:
Cavies breed from August to November (spring in the southern
hemisphere). At the beginning
of the breeding season, they gather in groups around a system of burrows.
Females give birth to 1-3 young (usually 2) outside of a burrow
entrance. The young are born
completely furred, with their eyes and ears open.
They can walk within minutes, and they enter the burrow on their
own. The mother visits the
burrow at least once each day to allow the young to nurse.
For their first four months, the young stay in the burrow, coming
out only to nurse or to graze on grass.
They are mature when they are about 8 months old.
Most live 10 years or less, but they can live up to 14 years in
captivity.
Did
You Know?
· Cavies can run up to 35 miles per hour. In the open grasslands, they rely on speed to escape from predators.
· They form life-long pair bonds, but are usually seen in larger groups of up to 35 pairs. Each male in the group defends his mate and the territory around her.
·
Cavies are declining because of competition with the
European hare, which has been introduced to