Brazilian mumps [1] , or Brazilian guinea pigs ( lat. Cavia aperea ) - a species of rodents in the family of mumps . It has long been considered the ancestor of domestic guinea pigs . Thanks to the latest molecular studies, the Peruvian guinea pig is a likely ancestor of domestic guinea pigs.
| Brazilian pig |
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| Scientific classification |
|---|
| No rank : | Bilateral symmetrical |
| Squadron : | Euarchontoglires |
| Infrastructure : | Hystricognathi |
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| International scientific name |
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Cavia aperea Erxleben , 1777 |
| Security status |
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Least ConcernedIUCN 3.1 Least Concern : 86257782 |
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Content
The Brazilian pig outwardly differs from the domestic guinea pig in a plain gray or brown color, coarser, longer hair and smaller size. Animals about 20 cm long and weighing from 700 to 1,500 g.
Brazilian pigs are common throughout almost South America (with the exception of Colombia and Venezuela, the Amazonian lowlands and the extreme south of the continent).
These animals inhabit a number of living spaces, including alpine meadows up to an altitude of more than 4,000 meters above sea level.
Active mainly at dusk. They prefer burrows as shelters. Live together in small groups of 5 to 10 animals. Since pigs do not have good eyesight, their hearing and sense of smell are well developed to protect themselves from enemies. Life expectancy from 5 to 8 years.
The following species are sometimes considered independent species or subspecies of the Brazilian mumps:
- Cavia (aperea) guianae ( Venezuela , Guyana )
- Cavia (aperea) anolaimae (neighborhood of Bogota, Colombia )
- Cavia (aperea) nana ( Western Bolivia )
Other subspecies:
- Cavia aperea resida ( Brazil , SΓ£o Paulo )
- Cavia aperea festina ( Peru )
- Cavia aperea hypoleuca ( Paraguay )
- Cavia aperea pamparum ( Argentina and Uruguay )
- Cavia aperea sodalis (Bolivia)
- Cavia aperea osgoodi (Peru)
- β Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia. "Mammals" Prince. 2 = The New Encyclopedia of Mammals / Ed. D. MacDonald . - M .: Omega, 2007 .-- S. 454. - 3000 copies. - ISBN 978-5-465-01346-8 .
