genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are na ...
s in the
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
Caviidae
Caviidae, the cavy family, is composed of rodents native to South America and includes the domestic guinea pig, wild cavies, and the largest living rodent, the capybara. They are found across South America in open areas from moist savanna to th ...
. They are unique within their family in that their premolar teeth do not grow and replace the original
deciduous
In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...
cheek teeth until after the animal is born; in other genera this occurs in the womb.
It contains six extant species:
*
Southern mountain cavy
The southern mountain cavy (''Microcavia australis'') is a species of South American rodent in the family Caviidae.
Description
Southern mountain cavies are tailless rodents with short, speckled, greyish-yellow fur, fading to pale grey on the un ...
Thomas's mountain cavy
Thomas' is a brand of English muffins and bagels in North America, established in 1880. It is owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA, one of the largest baking companies in the United States, which also owns Entenmann's, Boboli, Sara Lee, Stroehmann, ...
, ''M. maenas''
*
Andean mountain cavy
The Andean mountain cavy (''Microcavia niata'') is a species of rodent in the family Caviidae. It is found in Bolivia, Chile and Peru.
Feeding
The Andean mountain cavy's diet consists of herbs typically of the genus Eleocharis, Distichlis, V ...
, ''M. niata''
*
Shipton's mountain cavy
Shipton's mountain cavy (''Microcavia shiptoni'') is a species of rodent in the family Caviidae. It is endemic to Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southe ...
, ''M. shiptoni''
*
Sorojchi mountain cavy, Soroche (sometimes spelled sorojchi) can refer to:
*Altitude sickness
*the Cerro Soroche, a mountain in Ecuador
* Soroche pills, an Andean
The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in th ...
''M. sorojchi''
At least nine fossil species have also been named, dating back to the mid