Biodiversity
Guinea Pig
Cavia aperea | Erxleben, 1777
Characteristics: Species of rodent measuring about 25 centimeters. It has a dense, crusty coat and a vestigial tail.
Distribution: In Brazil, from the states of Pernambuco to São Paulo, and in Colombia.
Habitat: Riparian grasslands and other grasses, among bushes and "gravatá" plants, not far from creeks and streams.
Habits: A terrestrial species seen in small groups of ten or more individuals. They do not usually go out in the open in order to avoid encounters with predators, and are agile, both on land and in the water, where they dive and swim.
Diet: Herbivorous, feeding on grass.
Breeding: The gestation period lasts about 61 days, and an average of 1-5 pups are born.
In the UFRA area: This small rodent was found in wetlands with riparian forests and wetlands with herbaceous plants. It is rare at these farms, having been spotted only a few times.