5.

Greater Guinea Pig

Cavia magna

French: Grand Cobaye / German: Riesenmeerschweinchen / Spanish: Cobaya grande

Taxonomy. Cavia magna Ximenez, 1980,

“en las orillas del arroyo Imbé, municipio de Tramandai, estado de Rio Grande del Sur, Brasil.”

This species is monotypic.

Distribution. SE Brazil, in Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul states (N to 29° S, 49° W) and E Uruguay in the Rocha Department (S to 34° S, 54° W).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 220-345 mm, ear 22-32 mm, hindfoot 46-57 mm; weight 440-840 g. The Greater Guinea Pig is the largest species of Cavia. Itis agouti with shiny black streaking dorsally, darkest on top of head and back. Venteris reddish. Enlarged membranes between digits form webbed feet.

Habitat. Wetlands and coastal marshes along the south-eastern coast of Brazil. Greater Guinea Pigs make and use complex systems of tunnels in the vegetation.

Food and Feeding. The Greater Guinea Pig is herbivorous and consumes grasses and aquatic vegetation.

Breeding. Reproduction of the Greater Guinea Pig occurs year-round, and gestation is c.64 days. Females can produce three litters/year and reach sexual maturity at 30-45 days old. Young are highly precocial at birth.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Greater Guinea Pig is likely diurnal and active year-round.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Male Greater Guinea Pigs have extremely large home ranges (11,830 m?), ¢.50% larger than females (7670 m?). Home ranges overlap, and there is no evidence ofterritoriality. Social system is described as solitary and likely promiscuous because reproduction is not synchronized among females.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. The Greater Guinea Pig has a broad distribution and large estimated population size.

Bibliography. Adrian & Sachser (2011), Dunnum (2015), Dunnum & SalazarBravo (2010a), Eisenberg & Redford (1999), de Oliveira & Bonvicino (2006), Woods & Kilpatrick (2005), Ximenez (1980).