Cavia

Taxobox
name = Cavia
fossil_range = Middle Pleistocene - Recent

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image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Cavia aperea"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Mammalia
ordo = Rodentia
familia = Caviidae
subfamilia = Caviinae
genus = "Cavia"
genus_authority = Pallas, 1766
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Cavia aperea"
"Cavia tschudii"
"Cavia guianae"
"Cavia anolaimae"
"Cavia nana"
"Cavia porcellus"
"Cavia fulgida"
"Cavia magna"
"Cavia intermedia"

"Cavia" is a genus in the Caviinae subfamily that contains the rodents commonly known as guinea pigs. The most well-known species in this genus is the domestic guinea pig, "Cavia porcellus", an important meat animal in South America and a common household pet in the West.

Taxonomic controversy

"Cavia" are classified in order Rodentia, although there is a minority belief in the scientific community that evidence from mitochondrial DNA and proteins indicates that the Hystricognathi may belong to a different evolutionary offshoot and therefore a different order. [ cite web | last = Stiefel | first = Chana Freeiman | title = Family feud - genetic evidence seems to show that guinea pigs are not rodents | publisher = Science World | year = 1996 | url = http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1590/is_n3_v53/ai_18773108 | accessdate = 2007-11-15 ] If so, this would be an example of convergent evolution. Other scientists are critical of this hypothesis. [ [http://mbe.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/11/4/593 "Molecular Biology and Evolution," Vol 11, 593-604] ]

pecies

*"Cavia anolaimae" (often considered a synonym of "C. porcellus") - Colombia
*"Cavia aperea" – Brazilian Guinea Pig: widespread east of the Andes
*"Cavia fulgida" – Shiny Guinea Pig: eastern Brazil
*"Cavia guianae" (often considered a synonym of "C. porcellus) - Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil
*"Cavia intermedia" – Intermediate Guinea Pig: Moleques do Sul islands, Santa Catarina, Brazil, first described in 1999
*"Cavia magna" – Greater Guinea Pig: Uruguay, south-east Brazil
*"Cavia nana" (often considered a synonym of "C. tschudii")
*"Cavia porcellus" – Domestic Guinea Pig: wild ancestor unknown
*"Cavia tschudii" – Montane Guinea Pig: Peru south to northern Chile and north-west Argentina

References