Emily Hartman Professor Debbie Seale Biology 101 TR, 6-9pm 12/5/13 Caviidae The Caviidae is a family of rodents

which can be found over most of South America. It has three subfamilies: the Caviinae which includes the cavies and the familiar guinea pig; the Dolichotinae which includes Patagonian hares or Maras; and the Hydrochoerinae which includes the capybara and the rocky cavy. Each species of the Caviidae has special characteristics that set them apart from the others, but have some similarities that allow them to be classified in the same family. Cavia porcellus, or the guinea pig is the most common and well known of the Caviidae and are commonly kept as pets. C. porcellus originated in South America, but can very rarely be found there as they are kept and bred in captivity to be kept as pets. They are tailless and usually weigh between 700 g and 1100 g. Although they large compared to most rodents kept as pets, they are one of the smallest members of the Caviidae. They have compact cylindrical bodies with two petal shaped ears on their heads. They have small eyes placed midway down their faces between their ears and their nose. Like most rodents, their teeth grow forever, so length is maintained by grinding while feeding. There are many different textures and lengths of their coats. However, modern C. porcellus seem to have evolved to have brighter coats than their ancestors who had short brown coats, which provided camouflage to avoid predators. Because it is kept in captivity, C. porcellus has a diet of foods that humans eat as well as pellets

manufactured for them. In the wild, guinea pigs would eat dry grasses. Along with their brown coats, wild C. porcellus would dig burrows in the ground where they lived and hid from predators. Reproduction in this species occurs mainly at night and can be monogamous or polygamous depending on the male to female ratio. The male smells his potential mates genital area and scent marks their mates with urine; they are particularly protective of their mates, especially if there are more males than females in the population. C. porcellus has adapted to their environment in that they no longer have to worry about natural predators. Another member of Caviidae is Dolichotis patagonum, the Patagonian hare. D. patagonum is the second largest member of the Caviidae and can be recognized by their long rabbit-like ears, short nearly hairless tail which is short and kept close to the body. Most of its body is covered with short, gray grizzly fur, save for the large white patch under the tail. They have long back legs and shorter front legs which is ideal for running from predators. All digits have claws which are specialized for digging for food. They can be found only in the dry central and southern regions of Argentina. D. patagonum is a strict herbivore that eats mostly desert plants and grasses though leaves, nuts, seeds, grains, fruits, and flowers are eaten when they are available. Since it is so large, it has very few predators. To avoid predators, it uses its keep sense of hearing and smell to sense its predators before it can get to them. They have evolved to be able to run quickly away from its predators. D. patagonum is monogamous and usually bonds for life. This is probably due to the fact that females only go into heat once every 3-4 months and it only lasts for about thirty minutes. During the year, a female will give birth to one litter of one to three pups. Very rarely, however, will she have a second litter. D. patagonum plays an important role in their environment as they are good for grazing and spreading seeds through their feces. They can commonly be found in or around sheep ranches as they have similar habitat in the wild.

The Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris or capybara is another member of Caviidae. They are found throughout most of South America from Brazil, Uruguay, Venezuela, Columbia, the Argentinian pampas and west to the Andes. H. hydrochaeris is recognizable due to its barrel shaped, sturdy body covered in brownish red fur that yellows near the belly and can be black on the face. They have webbed feet which are used for swimming in shallow ponds and streams. Like hippos, their nostrils and ears are located on the top of their heads which makes them wellsuited for a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Unlike most species in Caviidae, the females are larger than the males. Their ability to be submerged under the water for five minutes is the main defense against predators. The mating season begins with the rainy season. Although females choose their mates, dominant males will often drive away the chosen mate and take his place. As they are polygamous, females will often mate many times. Copulation occurs in the water and only lasts a few seconds. After a gestation period of about five months, a female will give birth to two to eight pups. In most parts of South America they are the only large grazing animals and can have a huge impact on the vegetation of the area. They have also formed some mutualistic relationships with birds that will eat the bugs off of their bodies. H. hydrochaeris is more and more commonly being kept as pets due to the fact that they have a similar demeanor to dogs and are good around children. One of the smaller members of Caviidae is the Galea musteloid. G. musteloid can be found in all parts of South America including, but not limited to, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, and the northeastern part of Chile and prefer to live in savannahs or grasslands but can also be found in croplands. They are about the size of hamsters, and they are tailless with short legs. Coloring can differ from dark- to light-brown with a black streak running down the center of the back. Both males and females are approximately the same size. Strict herbivores, G.

musteloid eat grasses and other vegetation found in their habitats. It avoids predators by forming burrows in the ground where it sleeps and raises its young. Throughout the year long mating season, both male and female G. musteloid have many mates. A female can give birth anywhere from five to seven times in one year producing anywhere from five to thirty-five offspring. This is advantageous due to their high predation numbers. There is no known important role that the G. musteloid plays in its environment other than being a food source for its predators. A close relative of the capybara is the Kerodon rupestris. K. rupestris is only found in the semi-arid region of Brazil known as the Caatinga. They look like small capybaras and are tailless. Their coats can range from light- to dark-brown and their shorter front legs and long back legs provide for easy movement and quick escape from predators. K. rupestris is an herbivore that eats flowers, wood, bark, stems, and leaves. They avoid predators using their keen senses of smell and sound to detect predators and emit a high pitched squeal to alert others of the threat. They then run into nearby rocks to hide. The mating season of K. rupestris lasts throughout the year and the females can give birth to up to three litters per year. There is no known role that the K. rupestris plays in its environment other than being food for its predators. Most species in Caviidae are polygamous with a few exceptions. All are herbivores and are fairly gentle in nature except for when it comes to mating. Their differences allow for them to all fill a different niche where they fit in best and reduce competition among populations that live near each other. Unlike many families where size is relatively the same, Caviidae vary in size and shape.

Works Cited Boroski, Alison. "Galaea Musteloids." ADW. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Galea_musteloides/#physical_description Frens, Katheryn. "Hydrochoerus Hydrochaeris." ADW. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hydrochoerus_hydrochaeris/>. White, Alex. "Kerodon Rupestris." ADW. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Kerodon_rupestris/>. Hixon, Jordan. "Cavia Porcellus." ADW. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cavia_porcellus/>. Mascow, Molly. "Dolichotis Patagonum." ADW. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2013. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Dolichotis_patagonum/>.