List of caviids

Capybara (Hydrochoeris hydrochaeris)

Caviidae is a family of mammals in the order Rodentia and part of the Caviomorpha parvorder. Members of this family are called caviids and include guinea pigs, cavies, maras, and capybaras. They are found in South America and the southeast tip of Central America, primarily in forests, shrublands, grasslands, and savannas, though some species can be found in wetlands or rocky areas. They range in size from Shipton's mountain cavy, at 19 cm (7 in), to the capybara, at 134 cm (53 in) plus a 2 cm (1 in) tail. Caviids are herbivores and eat a wide variety of vegetation, primarily grass and leaves. Almost no caviids have population estimates, though the Santa Catarina's guinea pig is categorized as critically endangered with a population of fewer than sixty mature adults, and the domesticated guinea pig has a population of over 36 million, not including a large worldwide population as pets.

The twenty-one extant species of Caviidae are divided into three subfamilies: Caviinae, containing fifteen species of guinea pigs and cavies in three genera; Dolichotinae, containing a single genus of two mara species; and Hydrochoerinae, containing four capybara and cavy species in two genera. A few extinct prehistoric caviid species have been discovered, though due to ongoing research and discoveries, the exact number and categorization is not fixed. ^[1]

Conventions

IUCN Red List categories

Conservation status
EX	Extinct (0 species)
EW	Extinct in the wild (0 species)
CR	Critically endangered (1 species)
EN	Endangered (0 species)
VU	Vulnerable (0 species)
NT	Near threatened (1 species)
LC	Least concern (13 species)
Other categories
DD	Data deficient (5 species)
NE	Not evaluated (1 species)

The author citation for the species or genus is given after the scientific name; parentheses around the author citation indicate that this was not the original taxonomic placement. Conservation status codes listed follow the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Range maps are provided wherever possible; if a range map is not available, a description of the caviid's range is provided. Ranges are based on the IUCN Red List for that species unless otherwise noted.

Classification

Caviidae is a family consisting of twenty-one species in six genera. These genera are divided between three subfamilies: Caviinae, containing guinea pigs and cavies; Dolichotinae, or the maras; and Hydrochoerinae, containing capybara and cavy species.

Family Caviidae

• Subfamily Caviinae
  • Genus Cavia (guinea pigs): seven species
  • Genus Galea (yellow-toothed cavies): five species
  • Genus Microcavia (mountain cavies): three species
• Subfamily Dolichotinae
  • Genus Dolichotis (maras): two species
• Subfamily Hydrochoerinae
  • Genus Hydrochoerus (capybaras): two species
  • Genus Kerodon (rock cavies): two species

Caviidae [2] Caviinae    Galea Cavia Microcavia Dolichotinae    Dolichotis Hydrochoerinae   Hydrochoerus Kerodon

Caviids

The following classification is based on the taxonomy described by the reference work Mammal Species of the World (2005), with augmentation by generally accepted proposals made since using molecular phylogenetic analysis, as supported by both the IUCN and the American Society of Mammalogists. ^[3]

Subfamily Caviinae

Main article: Caviinae

Genus Cavia – Pallas, 1766 – seven species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Brazilian guinea pig	C. aperea Erxleben, 1777 Five subspecies C. a. aperea C. a. guianae C. a. hypoleuca C. a. pamparum C. a. rosida	Northern, central, and eastern South America	Size: 21–39 cm (8–15 in) long, with no tail [4] Habitat: Savanna, grassland, and rocky areas [5] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation [6]	LC  Unknown [5]
Greater guinea pig	C. magna Ximénez, 1980	Southern Brazil and Uruguay	Size: 22–34 cm (9–13 in) long, with no tail [4] Habitat: Forest and grassland [7] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation [6]	LC  Unknown [7]
Guinea pig	C. porcellus (Linnaeus, 1758)	Worldwide, primarily western South America	Size: 20–25 cm (8–10 in) long, with no tail [8] Habitat: Domesticated; wild guinea pigs are found in grasslands [9] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation [6]	NE  36 million, excluding pets [10]
Montane guinea pig	C. tschudii Fitzinger, 1867 Six subspecies C. t. arequipae C. t. festina C. t. osgoodi C. t. sodalis C. t. stolida C. t. tschudii	Western South America	Size: 22–27 cm (9–11 in) long, with no tail [4] Habitat: Forest, grassland, and inland wetlands [11] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation [6]	LC  Unknown [11]
Sacha guinea pig	C. patzelti Schliemann, 1982	Ecuador	Size: 28–29 cm (11 in) long, with no tail [4] Habitat: Grassland [12] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation [6]	DD  Unknown [12]
Santa Catarina's guinea pig	C. intermedia Cherem, Olimpio, & Trianón, 1999	Moleques do Sul Archipelago in southern Brazil	Size: 27–31 cm (11–12 in) long, with no tail [4] Habitat: Grassland [13] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation [6]	CR  24–60 [13]
Shiny guinea pig	C. fulgida Wagler, 1831	Southeastern Brazil	Size: 22–27 cm (9–11 in) long, with no tail [4] Habitat: Forest and grassland [14] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation [6]	LC  Unknown [14]

Genus Galea – Meyen, 1832 – five species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Brazilian yellow-toothed cavy	G. flavidens Brandt, 1835	Central Brazil	Size: 20–23 cm (8–9 in) long, with no tail [4] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas [15] Diet: Grass, forbs, and other vegetation [16]	LC  Unknown [15]
Common yellow-toothed cavy	G. musteloides Meyen, 1832 Five subspecies G. m. auceps G. m. demissa G. m. leucoblephara G. m. littoralis G. m. musteloides	Western South America	Size: Unknown, with no tail [4] Habitat: Shrubland and grassland [17] Diet: Grass, forbs, and other vegetation [16]	DD  Unknown [17]
Lowland yellow-toothed cavy	G. leucoblephara (Burmeister, 1861)	Southwestern South America	Size: 19–23 cm (7–9 in) long, with no tail [4] Habitat: Grassland [18] Diet: Grass, forbs, and other vegetation [16]	LC  Unknown [18]
Southern highland yellow-toothed cavy	G. comes Thomas, 1919	Western South America	Size: About 24 cm (9 in) long, with no tail [4] Habitat: Shrubland [19] Diet: Grass, forbs, and other vegetation [16]	DD  Unknown [19]
Spix's yellow-toothed cavy	G. spixii Wagler, 1831 Three subspecies G. s. palustris G. s. spixii G. s. wellsi	Eastern Brazil	Size: 22–23 cm (9 in), with no tail [4] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas [20] Diet: Grass, forbs, and other vegetation [16]	LC  Unknown [20]

Genus Microcavia – Gervais & Ameghino, 1880 – three species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Andean mountain cavy	M. niata (Thomas, 1898) Two subspecies M. n. niata M. n. pallidior	Western South America	Size: 19–20 cm (7–8 in) long, with no tail [21] Habitat: Grassland and inland wetlands [22] Diet: Leaves, as well as fruit [23]	LC  Unknown [22]
Shipton's mountain cavy	M. shiptoni (Thomas, 1925)	Northern Argentina	Size: About 19 cm (7 in) long, with no tail [21] Habitat: Grassland and rocky areas [24] Diet: Leaves, as well as fruit [23]	LC  Unknown [24]
Southern mountain cavy	M. australis (Geoffroy & d'Orbigny, 1833) Three subspecies M. a. australis M. a. maenas M. a. salinia	Southern South America	Size: Unknown, with no tail [21] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and desert [25] Diet: Leaves, as well as fruit [23]	LC  Unknown [25]

Subfamily Dolichotinae

Main article: Dolichotinae

Genus Dolichotis – Desmarest, 1820 – two species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Chacoan mara	D. salinicola Burmeister, 1876	Western South America	Size: 42–48 cm (17–19 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail [21] Habitat: Savanna [26] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation [27]	LC  Unknown [26]
Patagonian mara	D. patagonum (Zimmermann, 1780) Two subspecies D. p. centricola D. p. patagonum	Argentina	Size: 60–80 cm (24–31 in) long, plus 2–4 cm (1–2 in) tail [21] Habitat: Forest, shrubland, and grassland [28] Diet: Wide variety of vegetation [27]	NT  Unknown [28]

Subfamily Hydrochoerinae

Main article: Hydrochoerinae

Genus Hydrochoerus – Brisson, 1762 – two species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Capybara	H. hydrochaeris (Linnaeus, 1766)	South America	Size: 107–134 cm (42–53 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail [21] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and inland wetlands [29] Diet: Grass, as well as aquatic plants, grains, melons, and squashes [30]	LC  Unknown [29]
Lesser capybara	H. isthmius Goldman, 1912	Northwestern South America and Panama	Size: About 102 cm (40 in) long, plus 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) tail [21] Habitat: Forest and inland wetlands [31] Diet: Grass, as well as aquatic plants, grains, melons, and squashes [30]	DD  Unknown [31]

Genus Kerodon – F. Cuvier, 1825 – two species

Common name	Scientific name and subspecies	Range	Size and ecology	IUCN status and estimated population
Acrobatic cavy	K. acrobata Moojen, Locks, & Langguth, 1997	Central Brazil	Size: About 38 cm (15 in) long, with no tail [21] Habitat: Forest, savanna, and rocky areas [32] Diet: Leaves and other tree vegetation [6]	DD  Unknown [32]
Rock cavy	K. rupestris (Wied-Neuwied, 1820)	Eastern Brazil	Size: About 30 cm (12 in) long, with no tail [21] Habitat: Savanna and rocky areas [33] Diet: Leaves, flowers, buds, bark and occasionally fruit [33]	LC  Unknown [33]

References

1. "Fossilworks: Caviidae". Paleobiology Database . University of Wisconsin–Madison. Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
2. Honeycutt, pp. 61–81
3. Wilson, Reeder, pp. 1552-1555
4. Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, p. 355
5. Bernal, N. (2016). "Cavia aperea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T86257782A22189256. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T86257782A22189256.en .
6. Nowak, p. 1669
7. Gonzalez, E. (2016). "Cavia magna". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T4066A22188832. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T4066A22188832.en .
8. "Guinea pig". Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute . December 17, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
9. Wagner; Manning, pp. 31–32
10. Buela, L.; Cuenca, M.; Sarmiento, J.; Peláez, D.; Mendoza, A. Y.; Cabrera, E. J.; Yarzábal, L. A. (2022). "Role of Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) Raised as Livestock in Ecuadorian Andes as Reservoirs of Zoonotic Yeasts". Animals . 12 (24): 3449. doi: 10.3390/ani12243449 . PMC   9774381 . PMID   36552369.
11. Dunnum, J.; Teta, P. (2016). "Cavia tschudii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T4068A22188991. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T4068A22188991.en .
12. Roach, N. (2016). "Cavia patzelti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T86263590A86263599. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T86263590A86263599.en .
13. Roach, N. (2016). "Cavia intermedia". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T136520A22189125. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136520A22189125.en .
14. Amori, G. (2016). "Cavia fulgida". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T4065A22188918. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T4065A22188918.en .
15. Weksler, M. . (2016). "Galea flavidens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T8823A22189525. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T8823A22189525.en .
16. Nowak, p. 1667
17. Roach, N. (2016). "Galea musteloides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T86226097A22189593. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T86226097A22189593.en .
18. Roach, N. (2016). "Galea leucoblephara". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T86236150A86236159. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T86236150A86236159.en .
19. Roach, N. (2016). "Galea comes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T86235821A86235993. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T86235821A86235993.en .
20. Catzeflis, F.; Patton J., Percequillo; A., Weksler; M. (2016). "Galea spixii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T8825A22189453. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T8825A22189453.en .
21. Chernasky; Motis; Burgin, p. 356
22. Bernal, N.; Dunnum, J. (2016). "Microcavia niata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T13320A22189752. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T13320A22189752.en .
23. Nowak, p. 1665
24. Lacher, T.; Roach, N. (2020). "Microcavia shiptoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T13321A22189676. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T13321A22189676.en .
25. Roach, N. . (2016). "Microcavia australis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T13319A22189827. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T13319A22189827.en .
26. Bernal, N. (2016). "Dolichotis salinicola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T6786A22190451. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T6786A22190451.en .
27. Nowak, p. 1670
28. Roach, N. . (2016). "Dolichotis patagonum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T6785A22190337. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T6785A22190337.en .
29. Reid, F. (2016). "Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T10300A22190005. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T10300A22190005.en .
30. Nowak, p. 1673
31. Delgado, C.; Emmons, L. . (2016). "Hydrochoerus isthmius". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T136277A22189896. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136277A22189896.en .
32. Roach, N. (2016). "Kerodon acrobata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T136222A22190183. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136222A22190183.en .
33. Catzeflis, F.; Patton J., Percequillo; A., Weksler; M. (2016). "Kerodon rupestris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T10988A22190269. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T10988A22190269.en .

Sources

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