Scientific Name: Dolichotis patagonum
Found In: Argentina
Size: Cavies have a head-body length of 27 – 30 inches and body weight of 20 pounds.
Diet: Herbivore: grasses and herbs
Threat Level: Near Threatened – Habitat destruction for agriculture, and hunting for their skins have resulted in localized extinctions such as Buenos Aires Province.
Facts: Although they are mistaken for a species of rabbit, cavies are actually the fourth largest species of rodent.
![A Patagonian Cavy living at the Virginia Zoo](https://i0.wp.com/virginiazoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/PATAGONIAN-CAVY.jpg?resize=1024%2C681&ssl=1)