Patagonian Cavy

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*This page is under renovation and all information may not be up-to-date or complete*

Description

Patagonian cavy are rodents with long legs and a body similar to hoofed animals. They have a grayish-brown coat with a white patch on their chest and stomach and orange fur around their head.

Range & Habitat

Patagonian cavy are only found in central and southern Argentina. They live arid grasslands and shrublands without trees.

At the Virginia Zoo, Patagonian cavies can be found at the blue barn in the ZooFarm.

Behavior

Cavies move by walking, hopping like a rabbit, galloping, or stotting, which is a unique movement where they bounce on all fours.

Cavies have litters of two or three young. The young are born out in the open, but they are quickly transferred to a communal burrow shared by up to 15 breeding pairs. Females work together to care for their young while males keep watch for predators. Young cavies stay inside their burrow for four to five months.

Diet

Cavies primarily eat grasses, but they also consume cacti, seeds, fruit, and flowers.

At the Zoo they eat …

Conservation

Major threats are destruction, degradation and fragmentation of their habitats, as well as hunting.

Fun Facts

• Cavies are fast runners, reaching speeds of up to 35 miles per hour.
• Cavies have four clawed toes on their front feet for digging, while their hind feet have only three toes.
• Patagonian cavies may also be called “maras” or “dillabies”.

Virginia Zoo Animals

Males: Dash & Yellow

Females: Violet & Sherbet