Cavia
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| Cavia Fossil range: Middle Pleistocene - Recent |
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Cavia aperea |
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.
[edit] 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.[1] If so, this would be an example of convergent evolution. Other scientists are critical of this hypothesis.[2]
[edit] Species
- 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
[edit] References
- ^ Stiefel, Chana Freeiman (1996). Family feud - genetic evidence seems to show that guinea pigs are not rodents. Science World. Retrieved on 2007-11-15.
- ^ "Molecular Biology and Evolution," Vol 11, 593-604
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