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Cavia; Fossil range: Middle Pleistocene - Recent
	Cavia aperea
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia;
Phylum:	Chordata;
Class:	Mammalia;
Order:	Rodentia;
Family:	Caviidae;
Subfamily:	Caviinae;
Genus:	Cavia; Pallas, 1766
Species
	Cavia aperea; Cavia tschudii; Cavia guianae; Cavia anolaimae; Cavia nana; Cavia porcellus; Cavia fulgida; Cavia magna; Cavia intermedia

For the Japanese video game developer, see Cavia (company).

Cavia is a genus in the Caviinae subfamily that contains the rodents commonly known as guinea pigs. The most well-known species in this genus is the domestic guinea pig, Cavia porcellus, an important meat animal in South America and a common household pet in the West.

[edit] Taxonomic controversy

Cavia are classified in order Rodentia, although there is a minority belief in the scientific community that evidence from mitochondrial DNA and proteins indicates that the Hystricognathi may belong to a different evolutionary offshoot, and therefore a different order.^[1] If so, this would be an example of convergent evolution. Other scientists are critical of this hypothesis.^[2]

[edit] Species

Cavia anolaimae (often considered a synonym of C. porcellus) - Colombia
Cavia aperea – Brazilian Guinea Pig: widespread east of the Andes
Cavia fulgida – Shiny Guinea Pig: eastern Brazil
Cavia guianae (often considered a synonym of C. porcellus) - Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil
Cavia intermedia – Intermediate Guinea Pig: Moleques do Sul islands, Santa Catarina, Brazil, first described in 1999
Cavia magna – Greater Guinea Pig: Uruguay, south-east Brazil
Cavia nana (often considered a synonym of C. tschudii)
Cavia porcellus – Domestic Guinea Pig: wild ancestor unknown
Cavia tschudii – Montane Guinea Pig: Peru south to northern Chile and north-west Argentina

[edit] References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Cavia

^ Stiefel, Chana Freeiman (1996). "Family feud - genetic evidence seems to show that guinea pigs are not rodents". Science World. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1590/is_n3_v53/ai_18773108. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
^ "Molecular Biology and Evolution," Vol 11, 593-604

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[0] Stiefel, Chana Freeiman (1996). "Family feud - genetic evidence seems to show that guinea pigs are not rodents". Science World. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1590/is_n3_v53/ai_18773108. Retrieved 2007-11-15.

[1] "Molecular Biology and Evolution," Vol 11, 593-604

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